getting a string from the user after getting int in C language

Question

I can't understand why this code is not working properly:

#include<stdio.h>

    int main()
{
    char string [100];
    int a;
    printf(">");
    scanf("%d", &a);
    printf(">");
    gets(string);
    printf("%s\n", string);
}

This is a little part from a program that I had to build and I can't understand why after getting the value into a by scanf() function, the program just skip or not reading properly the string by gets() function. If you copy the code into compiler and tries to run you will understand what I mean.

cnicutar · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-30 16:19:41Z

3

The %d specifier doesn't eat the newline (or other blanks for that matter). Try this:

scanf("%d ", &a);
         ^

That space makes scanf throw away all the blanks until a non-blank. Incidentally, your question is remarcably similar to this C FAQ.

Don't use gets, it's so bad it's not even in the language anymore. Use fgets instead
Don't trust anyone suggesting fflush(stdin) for your problem

answered May 30, 2012 at 16:19

cnicutar

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Rafael Bluhm · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-02 21:45:08Z

0

Whenever you need to read a sentence composed with spaces (after any scanf's), modify your the scanf to:

scanf(" [^\n]", mystring);
       ^ Space here.

Look your example:

#include<stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    char mystring[100];
    int a;

    printf(">");
    scanf("%d", &a);

    printf(">");
    scanf(" %[^\n]", mystring);

    printf("Number:%d\nString: %s\n", a, mystring);

    return 0;
}

answered Jan 2, 2015 at 21:45

Rafael Bluhm

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