Definition
In C programming, Input Output (I/O) is a way for a program to communicate with external devices like keyboards, printers, and display screens. Input is when the program receives data from external devices, and output is when the program sends data to external devices.
To perform Input/Output operations in C, we use a set of functions defined in the “stdio.h” header file. These functions let us read and write data to and from external devices. For example, the “scanf” function can be used to read data from the keyboard, while the “printf” function can be used to display data on a display screen or print it to a printer.
Using Input/Output operations in C is important because it allows programs to interact with the outside world and provide useful functionality to users. Without Input/Output operations, programs would be limited to processing data internally and would not be able to receive input from or provide output to external devices.
Input
In C programming, input can be received through the standard input stream using the “scanf” function. The format string passed as the first argument to scanf specifies the type and number of values to be read, and the function then reads the input values from the standard input stream. This provides a flexible and efficient way to receive user input in a C program.
Example of input by using scanf()
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
int num;
printf(“Enter a number: “);
scanf(“%d”, &num);
printf(“You entered: %d”, num);
return 0;
}Output
In C programming, the term “output” refers to the display of data or results on a standard output device, such as a console or screen. The “printf” function is used to generate output in C programming. It requires a format string as its first argument, which specifies the type and number of values to be displayed. Then, it outputs the values to the standard output device.
For instance, consider the following code that uses the “printf” function to display the message “Hello, World!” on the screen:
Example of Output by using printf()
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
printf(“Hello, World!”);
return 0;
}
