CODEWITHSUNDEEP
cscanfinput-buffer
DarkLeader
DarkLeader

Reputation: 589

How do I clear input buffer after a failed scanf()?

I have a problem with scanf() and input buffer in my program.

First I ask the user for input :

char someVariable;
printf("Enter text: ");
scanf(" %c",&someVariable);

Then I have a loop that goes over the input one char at a time using scanf() until it reaches a newline.

The problem is that after the loop is done, somehow, there is still something in the buffer so this function (which is being called in a loop) gets called again and ruins the logic in my program.

How can I force clear the input buffer?

I can only use scanf() (assignment requirements)

void checkType(){
    char userInput;
    char tempCheckInput;
    printf("Enter Text: ");
    scanf(" %c",&userInput);
    while (userInput != '\n'){

        tempCheckInput = userInput;
        scanf("%c",&userInput);

Ignore the end of the loop; this is the part where I get the input.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 343

Answers (1)

chux
chux

Reputation: 153458

how can i force clear the input buffer?

In C, a stream, like stdin, cannot be cleared (in a standard way) as in "delete all input up to this point in time".

Instead input can consume and toss (akin to "cleared") input up to a data condition.

The usually way is

int consume_rest_of_line(void) {
  int ch;
  while ((ch = getchar()) != '\n' && ch != EOF) {
    ;
  }
}

If limited to scanf()

int consume_rest_of_line(void) {
  char ch;
  while (scanf("%c", &ch) == 1 && ch != '\n') {
    ;
  }
}

Upvotes: 5

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