Input in C

In C, input can be from standard device from user like keyboard or from FILE. To use input function <stdio.h> header file must be included.

Syntax

scanf("format_specifier", &variable);

scanf takes two arguments

format_specifier	The type of data accepted as input.
&variable	& returns the address of variable, followed by variable without space.

Example

#include<stdio.h>

int main(){
 int a;
 printf("Enter a value: "); 
 scanf("%d", &a);
return 0;
}

Multiple input using scanf()

Single scanf() can accepts multiple inputs.

Example

#include<stdio.h>

int main(){
 int a , b;
 float f;
 printf("Enter a value: ");
 scanf("%d %d %f", &a, &b, &f);
return 0;
}

Explanation

"%d %d %f"	Format specifiers, must be separated with spaces.
&a, &b, &f	Variable must be separated with comma, and must in the order of format specifiers.

Integer Input using scanf()

For integer input %d format specifier is used.

#include<stdio.h>

int main()
{
 int a; 
 printf("Enter a value: ");
 scanf("%d", &a);
return 0; 
}

float Input using scanf()

In C, for float input %f format specifier is used.

#include<stdio.h>


int main()
{
 float flt; 
 printf("Enter a decimal value: ");
 scanf("%f", &flt);
return 0;
}

Character input using scanf()

For character input %c format specifier is used.

#include<stdio.h>

int main()
{
 char chr; 
 printf("Enter a character: "); 
 scanf("%c", &chr);
return 0;
}

String input using scanf()

For string input %s format specifier is used.

#include<stdio.h>

int main()
{
 char *str; 
 printf("Enter a string: ");
 scanf("%s", str);
return 0;
}