Why can't I enter another string after the first time in a for loop?

Question

I want to create a program that allows me to enter name, age, and year of birth for 5 different people. However, I get a problem where I cannot enter another name after I entered the first in my for loop. Here is my code:

public static void main(String[] args) {

    String[] names = new String[5];
    int[] s = new int[5];
    Scanner keyboard = new Scanner (System.in);

    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        System.out.print("Name: ");
        names[i] = keyboard.nextLine();
        System.out.print("Age: ");
        s[i] = keyboard.nextInt();
        System.out.print("Year: ");
        s[i] = keyboard.nextInt();
    }
}

The program works fine when I run it, but it will not allow me to enter the other 4 names after I entered the first. Here is the output I am getting:

sample output

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/13102045/skipping-nextline-after-use-next-nextint-or-other-nextfoo-methods — Reimeus, May 09 '15 at 20:41

Rajesh · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-09T21:02:26.340

3

Please note:

String java.util.Scanner.next() - Returns:the next token
String java.util.Scanner.nextLine() - Returns:the line that was skipped

Change your code [do while initial lines] as below:

names[i] = keyboard.next();

edited May 09 '15 at 21:02

answered May 09 '15 at 20:44

Rajesh

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BProgram - Have you verified this? This must resolve your problem. – Rajesh May 09 '15 at 21:07
@Rajesh Sorry for the late reply. Yes this has resolved my problem and my program is working fine. Thanks for the help. – Behroz Henayat May 10 '15 at 00:21

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 09 '15 at 20:55

Take a look- I've fixed your code- added "keyboard.nextLine();" at the end.

public static void main(String[] args) {


        String[] names = new String[5];
        int[] s = new int[5];
        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner (System.in);

        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {

            System.out.print("Name: ");
            names[i] = keyboard.nextLine();
            System.out.print("Age: ");
            s[i] = keyboard.nextInt();
            System.out.print("Year: ");
            s[i] = keyboard.nextInt();
            keyboard.nextLine();
        }
    }

The reason you need to add it is that "nextInt()" will only read what you've entered and not the rest of the line. What's left of the line will be then read by "names[i] = keyboard.nextLine();" automatically.

By putting another "keyboard.nextLine()" at the end, I've skipped what left of the line and then "names[i] = keyboard.nextLine();" gets a new line to read input from.

Every beginner in Java encounters this problem sooner or later :)

Why can't I enter another string after the first time in a for loop?

2 Answers2