Some Data Input and Data Output

Functions in C Programming

Week 5  Lecture Note

The CSC121/COS121 Team @ 2025
2
 RECOMMENDED Text

➢ Byron S. Gottfried “Theory and

Problems of Programming with C”
Second edition’ SCHAUM’S Outline
Series, McGRAW –HILL (1996).

✓ Chapter 4: “Data Input & Outputs”

3
 Learning Objective
1. At the end of this lecture, students should be able
to appropriately use the following data input and
data output (I/O) functions in C:
➢getchar and putchar
➢gets and puts
➢scanf and printf
4
 Lecture Outline | Progress

➢The getchar and putchar functions

❖The gets and puts functions
❖The scanf and printf functions
❖Interactive (Conversational) Programming

5
 Single Character Input:
The getchar Function
❖ Single characters can be entered into the computer using
the C library function getchar.

❖ The getchar function is a part of the standard C I/O

library. It returns a single character from a standard input
device (typically a keyboard).

❖ The function does not require any arguments, though a

pair of empty parentheses must follow the word getchar.
6
 Single Character Input:
The getchar Function
➢ In general terms, a function reference would be
written as:
character variable = getchar();
………
… … ...
▪ where character variable refers to some previously declared
character variable.
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 Single Character Input:
The getchar Function (Example 5-1)
➢ A C program contains the following statements.
char c;
... ...
c = getchar();
▪ The first statement declares that c is a character-type variable.
▪ The second statement causes a single character to be entered from
the standard input device (usually a keyboard) and then assigned to c.

8
 Single Character Output:
The putchar Function
❖ Single characters can be displayed (i.e., written out of
the computer) using the C library function putchar.
▪ This function is complementary to the character input function
getchar.

❖ The putchar function, like getchar, is a part of the

standard C Input/Output (I/O) library.
▪ It transmits a single character to a standard output device
(typically a TV monitor).
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 Single Character Output:
The putchar Function
❖ The character being transmitted will normally be
represented as a character-type variable.
▪ It must be expressed as an argument to the function, enclosed in
parentheses, following the word putchar.

➢ In general, a function reference would be written as:

putchar(character variable);
▪ where character variable refers to some previously declared character variable.

10
 Single Character Output:
The putchar Function (Example 5-2)
➢ A C program contains the following statements.
char c;
... ...
putchar(c);
▪ The first statement declares that c is a character-type variable.
▪ The second statement causes the current value of c to be
transmitted to the standard output device (e.g., a TV monitor) where
it will be displayed.
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 Single Character Output:
The getchar and putchar Functions (Example 5-3)
#include<stdio.h> /*header file in C */
int main() /*the main function in C */
{
int c; /*declare a character variable, c */
printf("Enter a number character:");
c = getchar(); /*input or read a single character*/
printf("\n You entered: ");
putchar(c); /*output or write a single character*/
return 0;
}
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 The getchar and putchar Functions for
Multicharacter Input and Output
▪ The getchar function can be used to read multicharacter
strings, by reading one character at a time within a multipass
loop.
▪ The putchar function can also be used to output a string
constant by storing the string within a one-dimensional
character-type array.
▪ Each character can then be written separately within a loop.
– The most convenient way to do this is to utilize a for statement.
13
 Lecture Outline | Progress

❖The getchar and putchar functions

➢The gets and puts functions
❖The scanf and printf functions
❖Interactive (Conversational) Programming

14
 The gets and puts functions
❖ The gets and puts functions facilitate the transfer of strings between
the computer and the standard input/output (I/O) devices.

❖ Each of these functions accepts a single argument.

❖ The argument must be a data item that represents a string. (e.g., a

character array, c[]).
▪ The string may include Whitespace/Null characters.

❖ In the case of gets, the string will be entered from the keyboard, and will
terminate with a newline character (i.e., the string will end when the user
presses the Enter key).
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 String of Characters Input:
The gets Function (Example 5-4)
➢ A C program contains the following statements.
char c[20];
... ...
gets(c);
▪ The first statement declares that c is an array of character-type of size 20.

▪ The second statement causes a string of 20 characters (including NULL

character) to be entered from the standard input device (usually a keyboard)
and then assigned/stored into array c.
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 String of Characters Output:
The puts Function (Example 5-5)
➢ A C program contains the following statements.
char c[20];
gets(c);
puts(c);
▪ The first statement declares that c is an array of character-type of size 20.
▪ The second statement causes a string of 20 characters (including NULL
character) to be entered from the input device and assigned into array c.
▪ The third statement causes the values in array c to be transmitted to the
standard output device (e.g., a TV monitor) where it will be displayed.
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 Example 5-6: Reading and Writing a line of text
using gets and puts functions
➢ A C program that reads a line of text into the computer and
then writes it back out in its original form.

#include<stdio.h> /*header file in C */

main() /*the main function*/
{
char line[80]; /*declare an array, line*/
gets(line); /*read a string into line*/
puts(line); /*write a string from line*/
}

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 The gets and puts functions
❖ The gets and puts functions offer simple way for
reading/inputting and displaying/outputting strings of
characters.

❖ The gets function reads in a line of string into the buffer

pointed to by a string, ”s” until either a terminating newline
or end of file (EOF) is read.

❖ The puts function writes out the string ”s” and a trailing
newline.
19
 Lecture Outline | Progress

❖The getchar and putchar functions

❖The gets and puts functions
➢The scanf and printf functions
❖Interactive (Conversational) Programming

20
 The scanf and printf functions
❖ Input data can be entered into the computer from a standard input
device (e.g. keyboard) by means of the C library function scanf.
▪ The scanf function can be used to enter any combination of numerical
values, single characters and strings.
▪ The function returns the number of data items that have been entered
successfully.

❖ Output data can be written from the computer onto a standard

output device (e.g. Monitor) using the library function printf.
▪ This printf function can be used to output any combination of
numerical values, single characters and strings.

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 Entering Input Data:
The scanf Function
➢ In general terms, the scanf function is written as:
scanf(contro1 string, argl, arg2, ..., argn);

▪ Where control string refers to a string containing certain

required formatting information, and argl, arg2,..., argn are
arguments that represent the individual input data items.

▪ Actually, the arguments (arg) represent pointers that indicate

the addresses of the data items within the computer's
memory.
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 Table 5-1:
Commonly used Conversion Characters for data input
Conversion Character Meaning
c data item is a single character
d data item is a decimal integer
e data item is a floating-point value
f data item is a floating-point value
g data item is a floating-point value
h data item is a short integer
i data item is a decimal, hexadecimal or octal integer
o data item is an octal integer
s data item is a string followed by a whitespace character (the null character \ 0 will automatically
be added at the end)
u data item is an unsigned decimal integer
x data item is a hexadecimal integer
[…] data item is a string which may include whitespace characters

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 Example 5-6: Typical Application of a scanf function.

#include<stdio.h> /*header file in C */

main() /*the main function in C */
{
char item[201]; /*declare a character array, item*/
int partno; /*declare an integer variable, partno*/
float cost; /*declare a floating-type variable, cost*/
...
scanf("%s %d %f", item, &partno, &cost);
... /* input or read in three data items*/
}

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 Example 5-6: Typical Application of a scanf function
(Explanation).
➢ Within the scanf function, the control string is; "%s %d %f".
▪ It contains three character groups.
▪ The first character group, %s, indicates that the first argument (item) represents a string.
▪ The second character group, %d, indicates that the second argument (&partno)
represents a decimal integer value, and
▪ the third character group, %f, indicates that the third argument (&cost) represents a
floating-point value.

➢ Notice that the numerical variables partno and cost are preceded by ampersands (&)
within the scanf function.
▪ An ampersand (&) does not precede item, however, since item is an array name.

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 Example 5-7: The use of the scanf function to enter a string
consisting of UPPERCASE LETTERS and blank spaces.

➢ The string will be of undetermined length, but it will be limited to 79

characters (actually, 80 characters including the null character that is
added at the end). Notice the blank space that precedes the % sign.

#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
char line[80]; /*declare a character-type array, line*/
scanf("%[ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUWXYZ]", line);
/*read in string of UPPERCASE (A-Z) & null characters into line*/
}

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 Example 5-7: The use of the scanf function to enter a string
consisting of uppercase letters and blank spaces (Explanation).

➢ If the string NEW YORK CITY is entered from the standard input device
when the program is executed, the entire string will be assigned to the
array line since the string is comprised entirely of uppercase letters
and blank spaces.
➢ If the string were written as New York City however, then only the single
letter N would be assigned to line, since the first lowercase letter (in this
case, e) would be interpreted as the first character beyond the string.

➢ It would, of course, be possible to include both uppercase and

lowercase characters within the brackets, but this becomes
cumbersome and beyond this scope of learning.
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 Example 5-8: The use of the scanf function to enter a string NOT
consisting of UPPERCASE LETTERS and blank spaces.
➢ A variation of the feature in the previous slide which is often more useful is to
precede the characters within the square brackets by a Circumflex (i.e., ^).

#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
char line[80]; /*declare a character-type array, line*/
scanf("%[ ^ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUWXYZ]", line);
/*read in string that’s not UPPERCASE (A-Z) & null characters into line*/
}

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 Example 5.8a: Using scanf function with no
restrictions on the characters that comprise the string
➢ If the characters within the brackets are simply the circumflex followed by a newline
character (i.e., ^\n), then the string entered from the standard input device can
contain any ASCII characters except the newline character (line feed, \n).
▪ Thus, the user may enter whatever he or she wishes and then press the keyboard E n t e r key.
▪ The E n t e r key will issue the newline character, thus signifying the end of the string.

#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
char line[80]; /*declare a character-type array, line*/
scanf(" %[^\n]", line);
... /*read in any string of characters (not newline) and null into line*/
}
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 Example 5.9: Using scanf function with no restrictions
on the characters that comprise the string (Explanation)

➢ Notice the blank space preceding %[^\n], to ignore any unwanted

characters that may have been entered previously.
➢ When the scanf function is executed, a string of undetermined
length (but not more than 79 characters) will be entered from the
standard input device and assigned to the array, line.
➢ There will be no restrictions on the characters that comprise the
string, except that they all fit on one line.
➢ For example, the string, AUSTIN JAYJAY OKOCHA is one of
Nigeria's all time favorite footballers! could be entered from the
keyboard and assigned to line.

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 Writing Output Data:
The printf Function
❖ Output data can be written from the computer onto a standard
output device using the library function printf.
▪ This printf function can be used to output any combination of
numerical values, single characters and strings.

❖ printf is similar to the input function scanf, except that its purpose
is to display data rather than to enter it into the computer.
▪ That is, the printf function moves data from the computer’s memory to
the standard output device (Monitor), whereas
▪ the scanf function enters data from the standard input device
(Keyboard) and stores it in the computer’s memory.
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 Writing Output Data:
The printf Function
➢ In general terms, the printf function is written as:
printf(contro1 string, argl, arg2, ..., argn);

▪ Where control string refers to a string that contains formatting

information, and argl, arg2, ..., argn are arguments that represent the
individual input data items.

▪ In the case of printf, the arguments (arg) can be written as

constants, single variable or array names, or more complex
expressions.
▪ Function references may also be included.

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 Table 5-2:
Commonly used conversion characters for data output
Conversion Meaning
character
c Data item is displayed as a single character
d Data item is displayed as a signed decimal integer
e Data item is displayed as a floating-point value with an exponent
f Data item is displayed as a floating-point value without an exponent
g Data item is displayed as a floating-point value using either e-type or f-type conversion,
depending on value. Trailing zeros and trailing decimal point will not be displayed.

i Data item is displayed as a signed decimal integer

o Data item is displayed as an octal integer, without a leading zero
s Data item is displayed as a string
u Data item is displayed as an unsigned decimal integer
x Data item is displayed as a hexadecimal integer, without the leading Ox
33
 Example 5.9: Here is a simple program that makes
use of the printf function.
#include<stdio.h>
#include<math.h>
main()
{
float i=9.0, j=7.0; /*instantiate two floating-type variables, i,
j*/
printf("%f %f %f %f", i, j, i + j, sqrt(i+j));
/*display four floating-type data items*/
}

34
 Example 5.9: Here is a simple program that makes
use of the printf function.
➢ Notice that the first two arguments within the
printf function are single variables,
➢ the third argument is an arithmetic expression, and
➢ the last argument is a function reference that has a
numeric expression as an argument.
➢ Executing the program produces the following
output:
9.000000 7.000000 16.000000 4.000000
35
Example 5.9: Here is a simple (alternative) program
that makes use of the printf function.

#include<stdio.h>
#include<math.h>
main()
{
float i=9.0, j=7.0; /*instantiate two floating-type variables, i, j*/
float k=i+j; /*expression statement*/
float m=sqrt(i+j); /* expression statement*/
printf("%f %f %f %f", i, j, k, m);
/*display four floating-type data items*/
}

36
Example 5.10: Displaying several different types of
data using the printf function.

#include<stdio.h> /*header file in C */

main() /*the main function in C */
{
char item[20]; /*declare a character array, item*/
int partno; /*declare an integer variable, partno*/
float cost; /*declare a floating-type variable, cost*/
...
printf("%s %d %f", item, partno, cost);
... /* output or display three data items*/
}

37
 Example 5.10: Displaying several different types of
data using the printf function.
➢ Now suppose that item, partno and cost have been assigned the
values “fastener”, 12345 and 0.05, respectively, within the program.
▪ When the printf statement is executed, the following output will be
generated: fastener 12345 0.050000
➢ The single space between data items is generated by the blank
spaces that appear within the control string in the printf statement.
➢ Suppose printf statement had been
the written as
printf(“%s%d%f”,item,partno,cost);
▪ This printf statement is syntactically valid, though it causes the output
items to run together; i.e. fastener123450.050000

38
 Example 5.11: Reading and Writing a Line of Text
using scanf and printf
➢ Here is a short C program that will read in a line of text and then write it back out, just
as it was entered.
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
char line[80]; /*declare a character-type array, line*/
scanf("%[^\n]", line); /*read in any string (not newline) and null into
line*/
printf("%s", line); /*write out the string of characters and null from
line*/
}
39
 Example 5.11: Reading and Writing a Line of Text
using scanf and printf
➢ Notice the difference in the control strings within the scanf function
and the printf function.
▪ Now suppose that the following string is entered from the standard input device
(keyboard) when the program is executed: AUSTIN JAYJAY OKOCHA is one of
Nigeria's all time favorite footballers!

▪ This string is entered with the single scanf function, as long as it is terminated
by a newline character, \n (by pressing the keyboard’s E n t e r key).

➢ The printf function will then cause the entire string to be displayed
on the standard output device (monitor), just as it had been entered.
▪ Thus, the message: AUSTIN JAYJAY OKOCHA is one of Nigeria's all time favorite
footballers! would be shown on screen.
40
 Example 5.12: Simple program that reads and writes data stream
according to the format provided

#include<stdio.h>
main() ❖ When the above code is
{ compiled and executed, it
reads the input and
char str[100]; displays it as follows:
int i; ➢ Enter a value :
printf("Enter a digit in word and in figure: "); seven 7
scanf("%s %d", str, &i);
➢ You entered:
printf("\nYou entered: %s, %d ", str, i); seven, 7
return 0;
}
41
 Example 5.13: A C program to calculate the area of a
circle using scanf and printf
/* program to calculate the area of a circle */

#include<stdio.h> Header file

C main function
int main() Variables
{
Data type float radius, area;

Output function printf(“What’s the Radius of the Circle? = "); Statements

Input function scanf("%f", &radius);
Expression Stmt area = 3.14159 * radius * radius;
Output function printf("Area = %f", area);
}
42
Example 5.13: A C program to calculate the area of a
circle using scanf and printf
/*program to calculate the area of a circle*/
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
float radius, area;
printf(“What’s the Radius of the Circle? = ");
scanf("%f", &radius);
area=3.14159*radius*radius;
printf("Area = %f", area);
}
43
 Example 5.14: Reading and Writing a line of text using
gets and puts functions, VS scanf and printf functions
➢ A C program that reads a line of text into the computer and then
writes it back out in its original form.
#include<stdio.h> #include<stdio.h>
main() main()
{ {
char line[80]; char line[80];
gets(line); scanf("%[^\n]", line);
puts(line); printf("%s", line);
} 1 } 2
44
 The gets and puts functions
❖ The gets and puts functions offer simple alternatives to the
use of scanf and printf for reading and displaying strings.

❖ The gets function reads in a line of string into the buffer

pointed to by a string, s until either a terminating newline or
EOF is read.

❖ The puts function writes out the string s and a trailing

newline.

45
 Example 5.14: Reading and Writing a line of text using
gets and puts functions, VS scanf and printf functions

➢ The 1st program that utilized gets and puts, rather than scanf and
printf, to transfer the line of text into and out of the computer presented
a simpler programming syntax (compare carefully with the 2nd program that
used scanf and printf).

➢ On the other hand, the scanf and printf functions in the 2nd program
can be expanded to include additional data items other than strings,
whereas the 1st program cannot.

➢ However, when both programs are executed, they will behave in exactly the
same manner by inputting and outputting the same string data item.

46
 Example 5.15: Reading and Writing a line of text using both the
gets and puts functions, and scanf and printf functions
#include <stdio.h>
❖ When the above code is
main() compiled and executed,
{ it waits for you to input
some text when you
char str[100]; enter a text and press
printf("Enter a digit in word and figure: "); enter then program
proceeds and reads the
gets(str); complete line till end
printf("\nYou entered: "); and displays it as
follows:
puts(str);
➢ Enter a value : Seven 7
return 0;
➢ You entered: Seven 7
}

47
 Lecture Outline | Progress

❖The getchar and putchar functions

❖The gets and puts functions
❖The scanf and printf functions
➢Interactive (Conversational) Programming

48
 Interactive (Conversational) Programming

❖ Many modern computer programs are designed to create an

interactive dialog between the computer and the person using
the program (the "user").

❖ These dialogs usually involve some form of question-answer

interaction, where the computer asks the questions and the
user provides the answers, or vice versa.

❖ The computer and the user thus appear to be carrying on

some limited form of conversation.

49
 Interactive (Conversational) Programming

▪ In C, such dialogs can be created by alternate use of

the scanf and printf functions.
▪ The actual programming is straightforward since the
printf function is used both when entering data (to
create the computer's questions) and when
displaying results.
▪ On the other hand, scanf is used only for actual
data entry.
50
 Interactive (Conversational) Programming
Example 5.16: To Computer the Average Exam Score of a Student

❖ This example presents a simple, interactive C program that

reads in a student's name and three exam scores, and then
calculates an average score.
1. The data will be entered interactively, with the computer asking the
user for information and
2. the user supplying the information in a free format, as requested.
3. Each input data item will be entered on a separate line.
4. Once all of the data have been entered, the computer will compute
the desired average and write out all of the data (both the input
data and the calculated average).

51
 Interactive (Conversational) Programming
Example 5.16: To Computer the Average Exam Score of a Student
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
char name[20]; avg = (score1+score2+score3)/3;
float score1, score2, score3, avg; printf("\nName: %s\n", name);
printf("Please enter your name:"); printf("Score 1: %f\n", score1);
scanf("%[^\n]", name);
printf("Score 2: %f\n", score2);
printf("Please enter the first score:");
printf("Score 3: %f\n", score3);
scanf("%f", &score1);
printf("Please enter the second score:"); printf("Average: %f\n", avg);

scanf("%f", &score2); }
printf("Please enter the third score:");
scanf("%f", &score3);
1 2
52
 Interactive (Conversational) Programming
Example 5.16: To Computer the Average Exam Score of a Student

❖ Notice that two statements are associated with each input data item.
➢ The first is a printf statement, which generates a request for the item.
Then the second statement, a scanf function, causes the data item to be
entered from the standard input device (i.e., the keyboard).

➢ After the student's name and all three exam scores have been entered, an
average exam score is calculated.

➢ The input data and the calculated average are then displayed, as a result of
the group of printf statements at the end of the program.

53
 Interactive (Conversational) Programming
Example 5.16: To Computer the Average Exam Score of a Student

➢ A typical interactive session is shown below:

The Output
▪ To illustrate the nature of the dialog, the user's
responses have been highlighted in blue texts: Name: Robert Smith

Please enter your name: Robert Smith Score 1: 88.0

Please enter the first score: 88 Score 2: 62.5

Please enter the second score: 62.3 Score 3: 90.0

Please enter the third score: 90 Average: 80.2

54
 Summary:
Data Input and Data Output Functions in C
❖The input functions are:
➢getchar: allows single characters to be obtained
from the keyboard.
➢gets: facilitates the input of strings from the
keyboard.
➢scanf: allows single characters, numerical values
and strings to be obtained from the keyboard.
55
 Summary:
Data Input and Data Output Functions in C

❖The output functions include:

➢putchar: allow single characters to be displayed to
the monitor.
➢puts: facilitates the output of strings to the monitor.
➢printf: displays single characters, numerical
values and strings to the monitor.

56
 Exercise 1

A. What are the commonly used input/output

functions in C? How are they accessed?

B. Explain, in general terms, how an interactive

dialog can be generated by repeated use of
pairs of scanf and printf functions.
57
 Exercise 2
➢ Write the necessary scanf or printf statements for each of the following
individual situations:
a) Generate the message: Please enter your name: , then enter the name
on the same line. Assign the name to a character-type array called name.

b) Suppose that x1 and x2 are floating-point variables whose values are 8.0
and -2.5, respectively. Display the values of x1 and x2, with appropriate
labels; i.e., generate the message: x1 = 8.0 x2 = -2.5

c) Suppose that a and b are integer variables. Prompt the user for input
values of these two variables, then display their sum. Label the output
accordingly.
58
 Exercise 3
➢ A C program contains the following statements:
#include<stdio.h>
int i, j , k;
▪ Write an appropriate scanf function to enter numerical values for
i, j and k, assuming
a) The values for i, j and k will be decimal integers.
b) The value for i will be a decimal integer, j an octal integer and k a
hexadecimal integer.
c) The values for i and j will be hexadecimal integers and k will be an
octal integer.
59
 Exercise 4
➢ A C program contains the ▪ For each of the following groups of
following statements: variables, write a scanf function that
will allow a set of data items to be read
#include<stdio.h>
into the computer and assigned to the
int i, j; variables.
long ix; ▪ Assume that all integers will be read in
short s; as decimal quantities.
unsigned u; a) i, j, x and dx
float x; b) i, ix, j, x and U
double dx; c) i, u and c
char c; d) c, x, dx and s
60
 Exercise 5
➢ A simple C program contains the following statements:
#include <stdio.h>
char text[80];

▪ Write a scanf function that will allow a string to be read into

the computer and assigned to the character array text:
a) Assume that the string does not contain any whitespace
characters.
b) Assume that the string contains only lowercase letters, blank
spaces and newline characters
61
 Exercise 6

➢Write a simple C program to compute

a) Simple Interest
b) Compound Interest

62
 Exercise 7

➢ Find the results of the following equations by

writing a simple C program,
Given the values A = 12, B = 3, C = 6, D = 2
a) F = A + B/C – D ^ 2
b) F = (A + B)/ C - D ^ 2
c) F = A + B/(C - D ^ 2)
d) F = (A + B)\ D ^ 2
63
 Exercise 8:

➢ Roger would like to know the average of his test

scores.
a) Write an equation that would calculate the average
given five (5) test scores.
b) Write a simple C program to solve this problem.

64
 Important Notice
❖You are expected to solve the Exercises 1-8 and
submit as stipulated:
– Typed out your solutions and submit via the MOODLE Link
– Single MsWord or PDF.
– Lifeline: Next Week’s Class, FRIDAY, 26th May, 2013
➢ Be reminded that your weekly attendance record is
only guaranteed by your assignment submission.
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