CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++
Lucas Mezalira
Lucas Mezalira

Reputation: 183

How does c++ cin>>x work

In C when we want to input an integer for example, we can use scanf().
The variable to which our input is to be saved is passed as a pointer, and this makes sense for the function needs the address for this variable otherwise the inputted value would lost as soon as the function returned.

How can (in C++) cin>>x, which I understand to be cin.operator>>(x) work if I don't pass an address to it?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 95

Answers (1)

πάντα ῥεῖ
πάντα ῥεῖ

Reputation: 1

"How can C++ cin>>x , which I understand to be cin.operator>>(x), work if I do not pass an address to it?"

It's because the signature of the 

std::istream& operator>>(std::istream& is, <type>& obj);
                                              // ^

function takes a reference parameter for obj.

A C++ reference somehow replaces passing pointers to supplied parameters around, but also needs to be initialized with a valid address.

That's implemented for any primitive types, and some of the complex types (as e.g. std::string) of the standard library.

Upvotes: 2

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