Standard input-output functions:

There are 3 types of i/o functions in ‘C’ language.

1. Character-oriented I/O functions

2. Formatted I/O functions
3. String oriented I/O functions

Character-oriented I/O functions:

(a) getchar()
(b) putchar()

getchar(): This function is used to read a single character from the standard input device i.e.,
keyboard.

The general syntax of getchar() function is

charactervariable=getchar();
Example: char ch;

printf(“Enter a character”);
ch=getchar();

putchar(): This function is used to display a single character on the standard input device i.e.,
monitor.

The general syntax of putchar() function is

putchar(charactervariable);
Example: char ch;
 printf(“Enter a character”);
ch=getchar();
putchar(ch);
Formatted i/o functions:

(a) scanf()
(b) printf()

scanf(): This function is used to read any kind of data from the standard input device.

The general syntax of scanf() function is

scanf(“control string”, argument list);

Here, the control string contains the format specifications (%d %c etc) and the argument
list contains the addresses of variables that stores the actual data (&n, &ch)

Rules for using scanf() function:

1. The control string must be placed in a pair of double quotes.

2. The variables in the argument list must be preceded by & (ampersand).
3. There should be a one to one mapping between the conversion specifications and the
address given in the argument list.
Examples:
 scanf(“%d %c”, &n, &ch);

x scanf(“%d %c”, &n); no one-one mapping

x scanf(“%d %c”, &n1, &n2);

4. The order and types of conversion specifications in the control string must match with the
order and types of variables used in the argument list.
Examples:
int n;
char ch;
float m;
 scanf(“%d %c %f”, &n, &ch, &m);

x scanf(“%d %c %f”, &n, &m, &ch); ------ mismatch of types

printf(): This function is used to display any kind of data onto the standard input device.
The general syntax of printf() function is

printf(“control string”, argument list);

Here, the control string contains the format specifications (%d %c etc) along with some
message (optional) and the argument list contains the set of variables to be displayed onto the
monitor.

Rules for using printf() function:

1. The control string must be placed in a pair of double quotes.

2. There should be a one to one mapping between the conversion specifications and the
address given in the argument list.
Examples:
 scanf(“%d %c”, n, ch);

x scanf(“%d %c”, n); no one-one mapping

x scanf(“%d ”, n1, n2);

5. The order and types of conversion specifications in the control string must match with the
order and types of variables used in the argument list.
Examples:
int n;
char ch;
float m;
 scanf(“%d %c %f”, n, ch, m);

x scanf(“%d %c %f”, n, m, ch); ------ mismatch of types

The list of format specifiers used in ‘c’ language are given below
 Format code Data Type

%d or %i or %n For integers

%c For characters

%f or %e or %g For floating point values

%h For short int

%ld For long integer values

%lf For double type values

%s For char.arrays or strings

%x For hexa decimal values

%o For octal values

%u For unsigned integers

%[ ] For strings with whitespaces

String oriented i/o functions:

(a) gets()
(b) puts()

gets(): This function is used to read a string from the standard input device i.e., keyboard.

The general syntax of gets() function is

getchar(stringvariable);

Example: char str[10];

printf(“Enter a string”);
gets(str);

puts(): This function is used to display a string on the standard input device i.e., monitor.
The general syntax of puts() function is

putchar(stringvariable);

Example: char str[10]=”hello”;

puts(str);
Escape sequences / back slash character constants:

Escape sequences in ‘c’ language are the character representations that may appear either in a
character constant or in a string constant.

An escape sequence always begins with a back slash (\) followed by one or more special
characters.

Escape Sequence Description

\n New line character

\t To provide tab space

\a To get Bell sound

\\ Single \

%% Single %

\b Backspace

\v Vertical tab

\f Form feed

\r Carriage return

\” Double quotes

\’ Single quote

\\ Back slash

\? Question mark

\0 null