The putchar function can be used to write a single character to the standard output. It returns the character printed as an integer after receiving an integer parameter that represents the character's ASCII value. EOF is returned in case of an error; because this function can offer great control over the output, it is often used for character-by-character output. However, since a newline is not added automatically, formatting must be done manually. It is less efficient when considering whole strings, and putchar helps iterate through characters either in a string or a file.
- Purpose: Its main purpose to output one character to standard output.
- Use: It writes a single character (as an int), and does not print a newline.
- Return Value: If it occurs an error, it returned -1, and errno is set appropriately; otherwise, the character typed.
- Use Case: It is useful in character-by-character output or when writing to achieve specific formatting.
Syntax:
It has the following syntax:
putchar('A'); // Outputs: A
What is the Puts function?
The puts function writes a null-terminated string to standard output, which is followed by a newline (\n). If successful, it returns a non-negative number; if unsuccessful, it returns EOF. It takes a string pointer as input. This function simplifies string output by automatically appending a newline, which makes it more practical than putchar for printing strings. However, it doesn't give us fine-grained control, such as the ability to skip the newline. The puts function is ideal for quickly printing entire strings. Therefore, it is not suitable for tasks requiring precise formatting or character-by-character output.
- Purpose: It main purpose is to ends a null-terminated string to the standard output, which is followed by a newline.
- Use: It writes a string to a pointer, automatically adding a new line.
- Return Value: If successful, it returns a non-negative value; if unsuccessful, it returns EOF.
- Use Case: It is perfect for printing strings quickly and easily.
Syntax:
It has the following syntax:
puts("Hello, World!"); // Outputs: Hello, World!\n
Key differences between putchar and puts function in C:
[Program Output]
There exist various significant variances between the putchar and puts function in the C programming language. A few primary distinctions are outlined below:
| Aspects | Putchar() | Puts() |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | It produces a single character. | It produces a whole string as output. |
| Argument | It accepts a single character (int). | It takes a null-terminated string as a pointer. |
| Newline Behavior | It does not automatically add a new line. | It adds a newline to the output automatically. |
| Ease of use | It requires more work when producing output with multiple characters, such strings. | It is easy to use for printing strings. |
| Function prototype | int putchar(int char); | int puts(const char *str); |
| Return value | On error, it returns the character that was written as int or EOF. | EOF on error if a non-negative value is returned. |
| Use case | It is ideal for fine-grained output control or printing individual characters. | It is ideal for printing strings quickly with minimum coding. |
| Example | putchar('A'); prints A. | puts("Hello"); prints Hello\n. |
Example 1:
Let's consider a scenario to demonstrate the utilization of the putchar and puts functions in the C programming language.
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
// Using putchar() to print individual characters
printf("Using putchar():\n");
putchar('H'); // Prints: H
putchar('e'); // Prints: e
putchar('l'); // Prints: l
putchar('l'); // Prints: l
putchar('o'); // Prints: o
putchar('\n'); // Manually adds a newline
// Using puts() to print a whole string
printf("\nUsing puts():\n");
puts("Hello"); // Prints: Hello followed by a newline
// More examples for comparison
printf("\nComparing formatting:\n");
putchar('A');
putchar('\n');
puts("A");
return 0;
}
Output:
Using putchar():
Hello
Using puts():
Hello
Comparing formatting:
A
A
Example 2:
Let's consider another instance to demonstrate the functionality of the putchar and puts functions in the C programming language.
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
// Example with putchar()
printf("Example with putchar():\n");
char word1[] = "World";
for (int i = 0; word1[i] != '\0'; i++) {
putchar(word1[i]); // Print each character individually
}
putchar('\n'); // Manually adding a newline
// Example with puts()
printf("\nExample with puts():\n");
char word2[] = "World";
puts(word2); // Prints the entire string and automatically adds a newline
// Showing newline difference
printf("\nShowing newline difference:\n");
putchar('C');
putchar('!'); // Outputs "C!" on the same line
putchar('\n'); // Manual newline
puts("C!"); // Outputs "C!" followed by a newline automatically
return 0;
}
Output:
Example with putchar():
World
Example with puts():
World
Showing newline difference:
C!
C!
Conclusion:
In summary, the putchar and puts function in C are valuable methods for generating output, each serving distinct roles. The putchar function generates individual characters sequentially, offering detailed control over character positioning. This makes it suitable for tasks demanding precise formatting or character-level modifications. Conversely, the puts function is designed for straightforward string output, efficiently printing complete strings and appending a newline automatically. Opt for puts when aiming for efficient string output with minimal complexity, while choosing putchar when precise character control is essential for the task at hand.