Cebu Institute of Technology – University

Computer Engineering Department

Module 2.1 – Input/Output Operations
Conversion Specifications (Format)
Symbols used to represent variables in output and input functions.
Date Types Output input

int %d %d

float %f (default; displays 6 decimal places) %f (ONLY, no other

%.2f, %.3f, %.4f, etc. symbol)
The value in front of f is the number of decimal places to be displayed.

char %c %c

string %s %s

Input/Output (I/O) Functions

Input Commands
scanf()
• used to accept data from the standard input, usually the keyboard.
• Best used for numeric inputs, but can also be used for char and string inputs (but not really recommended).
• Uses the enter or space key to register/finalize the data. Under the stdio.h library.
Syntax:
scanf(“format”,&variable_name);
Example:
1. Input an int variable: Examples of Wrong Syntax:
int num; scanf(“ %d ”, &num);
scanf(“%d”, &num); -wrong because of the space
scanf(“%d”, num);
-wrong because of the missing &
Use %d to should be placed before symbol
represent int the variable name
2. Input a float variable:
float num; scanf(“%.2f”, &num);
scanf(“%f”, &num); - the other %f symbols can only be
used in printf or output function
scanf(“ %f ”, &num);
Use %f to represent should be placed -there should be no space inside
float before the variable the quotation mark.
name scanf(“%f”, num);
-wrong because of the missing &
symbol
3. Input a char variable
char letter; scanf(“ %c ”, &num);
scanf(“%c”, &letter); -there should be no space inside
the quotation mark.
scanf(“%c”, num);
Use %c to should be placed -wrong because of the missing &
represent char before the variable symbol
name
4. Special variable string
a. String – a series of characters (a word)
b. The C language doesn’t have a data type reserved word for string unlike int, float, and char.
c. How to declare a string variable.
i. Syntax: Example: char firstName[50];
char variable_name[#];
- # : the maximum number of characters in your string/word
d. Input a string variable
char firstName[50]; scanf(“ %s ”, &num);
scanf(“%s”, &firstName); -there should be no space inside
the quotation mark.
Use %s to Optional for string inputs. scanf(“%s”, num);
represent -the & symbol can be omitted for
string string inputs. So, this will not
cause a compiler error

e. Address Operator – the & symbol is responsible in accessing the address of your variable in your
computer’s memory. That is why it is important for scanf().

Engr. Jundith D. Alterado

[email protected]
 Cebu Institute of Technology – University
Computer Engineering Department
Module 2.1 – Input/Output Operations
gets()
• Only used for the inputting string variables.
• Under the stdio.h library
Syntax:
gets(variable_name);
Example:

char firstName[50];
gets(firstName);

getch() and getche()

• getch - allows the user to input a character and wait for the enter key. Inputted char will not be echoed but
could be stored if location is specified.
• getche - allows the user to input a character and there is no need for the enter key. Inputted char will be
echoed but could be stored if location is specified.
• Recommended for character inputs.
• Used for single character inputs only.
• Not for numeric inputs
• Under the conio.h library
Syntax:
variable_name = getch();
variable_name = getche();

Example:
#include<conio.h>
int main()
{
char let1, let2;
let1 = getch();
let2 = getche();
}

Output Commands
printf
• Writes formatted output to the standard output device such as the monitor.
• Under the stdio.h library
Syntax:
printf(“format”, &variable_name);
Examples:
1. Output an int variable
int num=5;
printf(“%d”, num);

Use %d to NO & symbol before the

represent int variable name

2. Output a float variable

float num = 3.553;
//6 decimal display
printf(“%f”, num); //3.553000
//3 decimal display
printf(“%.3f”, num); //3.553
//2 decimal display
printf(“%.2f”, num); //3.55

3. Output a char variable

Char letter = ‘a’;
printf(“%c”, letter);

4. Output a string variable

Char name[20] = “Julia”;
printf(“%s”, name);

DO NOT include the square

brackets ([ ])
Engr. Jundith D. Alterado
[email protected]
 Cebu Institute of Technology – University
Computer Engineering Department
Module 2.1 – Input/Output Operations
5. Display multiple variables
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int n1 = 3, n2 = 8;
float n3 = 6.5;
char let = ‘y’;
char str[5] = “yes”;
//comments will show how they will look like when
//you run your code
printf(“%d %d”, n1, n2); Variable list
//3 8
printf(“%d %d”, n2, n1);
//8 3
printf(“%d %.2f %c %s”, n1, n3, let, str);
//3 6.50 y yes

The first “format” would represent the first variable on the list.
If you put n3 before n1
Ex: printf(“%d %.2f %c %s”, n3, n1, let, str);
There would be an error because, now %d would represent n3 which is a float variable.
6. Adding a ‘new line’.
What if you want your display to look like this? Use the /n symbol.
3 #include<stdio.h>
6.50 int main()
y {
yes int n1 = 3, n2 = 8;
float n3 = 6.5;
char let = ‘y’;
char str[5] = “yes”;
printf(“%d\n%.2f\n%c\n%s”, n1, n3, let, str);
/* 3
6.50
y
yes */

Note:
• unlike in scanf(), there can be other characters inside the quotation mark (“ “), you can customize the way
you display your output.
• Example: I want my display to be “Number is #” instead of just the number directly.
-# is whatever value the user inputs
• Syntax:
#include<stdio.h> #include<stdio.h>
int main() int main()
{ {
int num; int num1, num2;
scanf(“%d”, &num); scanf(“%d”, &num1);
printf(“Number is %d”, num); scanf(“%d”, &num2);
} printf(“Numbers are %d and %d”, num1, num2);
}

Sample Programs:

1. Create a C program to ask the user for an integer number and display its value.
Expected Display when you run your code:

Input a number: 12 Input a number: 0 Input a number: -9

Inputted value: 12 Inputted value: 0 Inputted value: -9

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int num;
printf(“Input a number: “);
scanf(“%d”, &num);
printf(“Inputted value: %d”, num);
}

Engr. Jundith D. Alterado

[email protected]
Cebu Institute of Technology – University
Computer Engineering Department
Module 2.1 – Input/Output Operations
2. Create a C program to ask the user for two integer numbers and display their values in two separate lines
of text.
Expected Display when you run your code:

Input first number: 12 Input first number: 8

Input second number: 24 Input second number: 16
First Number: 12 First Number: 8
Second Number: 24 Second Number: 16

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int num1, num2;
printf(“Input first number: “);
scanf(“%d”, &num1);
printf(“Input second number: “);
scanf(“%d”, &num2);
printf(“First Number: %d\n”, num1);
printf(“Second Number: %d”, num2);
}

3. Create a C program to ask the user their name and display it.
Expected Display when you run your code:

Enter name: Jundith Alterado

Hello Jundith Alterado! Welcome to CIT-U.

Enter name: Romaine Lorena

Hello Romaine Lorena! Welcome to CIT-U.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
char name[50];
printf(“Enter name: “);
gets(name);
printf(“Hello %s! Welcome to CIT-U!”, name);
}

Engr. Jundith D. Alterado

[email protected]