gets() function behaviour

Asked Oct 11 '16 at 16:29

Active Oct 11 '16 at 16:29

Viewed 267 times

In this code snippet:

char name[25];
int a;
cout<<"Enter number: ";
cin>>a;
cout<<"Enter name: ";
gets(name);

before I can even give the string name[] any value, it automatically skips it. But when I alter the code and put the string input before the integer input,

char name[25];
int a;
cout<<"Enter name: ";
gets(name); 
cout<<"Enter number: ";
cin>>a;

it works perfectly. Why is the behavior of the gets() function so? Any other string stream funtions that I can use as alternative to it?

asked Oct 11 '16 at 16:29

Satyam Raj

5

Do note that `gets` is on its way out the door in C++ and has already left C. You should just not use it or worry about it. – NathanOliver Oct 11 '16 at 16:31
2

In the first case I assume you are pressing return/enter after entering a number which is then taken as the input for name. – MrTux Oct 11 '16 at 16:31
1

@NathanOliver I'd argue that it's aready out (it's not in C++14) – krzaq Oct 11 '16 at 16:34
1

I think that the gets() is reading '\n' as its input. – Satyam Raj Oct 11 '16 at 16:34
1

@krzaq So it is. I thought it was a change to C++17 but looks like they did it in C++14. Woot \o/ – NathanOliver Oct 11 '16 at 16:36
so how to overcome it? – Satyam Raj Oct 11 '16 at 16:36
1

use `getline` and `operator >>` and watch out for [this](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21567291/why-does-stdgetline-skip-input-after-a-formatted-extraction) – NathanOliver Oct 11 '16 at 16:36
someone used `cin.get()` to empty buffer. How does that work? – Satyam Raj Oct 11 '16 at 16:55

gets() function behaviour

0 Answers0