I've just started learning C++ and wondered what the purpose of cin.ignore() is and..

[Elliotofhull]

cin.get()

In this basic thing(don't know what you would call it)
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main ()
{
    int num;
    cout<<"Insert number:";
    cin>>num;
    cin.ignore();
    cout<<"You choose:"<<num<<"\n";
    cin.get();
}

it works with and without the ' cin.ignore();' and 'cin.get()' so what are they for?

[laserlight]

This particular use of cin.get() is to pause the program by waiting for input. The idea is that the command prompt window might close when the program terminates, so this keeps it open. If you are running the program from the command prompt, then this would be rather unnecessary.

The problem is that cin>>num; leaves the newline in the input buffer. cin.get() would then read this newline, thus failing to give the desired "pause the program" effect. Therefore, cin.ignore() is used to read and discard this newline.

[Dante Wingates]

See for thyself

#include <iostream>

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    std::string thyName;

    std::cout << "Input thy name: ";
    std::cin >> thyName;
    std::cout << "Thy name is \"" << thyName << "\"";
    std::cin.ignore();
    std::cin.get();
}

now delete "std::cin.ignore()" and try again