Menu
I generally use cout and cerr to write text to the console. However sometimes I find it easier to use the good old printf statement. I use it when I need to format the output.
One example of where I would use this is:
// Lets assume that I'm printing coordinates... printf("(%d,%d)\n", x, y); // To do the same thing as above using cout.... cout << "(" << x << "," << y << ")" << endl; I know I can format output using cout but I already know how to use the printf. Is there any reason I shouldn't use the printf statement?
791
The main difference is that printf() is used to send formated string to the standard output, while cout doesn't let you do the same, if you are doing some program serious, you should be using printf().
Originally Answered: Why is it called printf rather print? The commonly accepted answer is that the 'f' at the end of the function name refers to “formatted”, indicating that the function requires a format string in addition to the values to be printed.
A printf function call with a single argument in general is not deprecated and has also no vulnerabilities when used properly as you always shall code.
puts() The function puts() is used to print the string on the output stream with the additional new line character '\n'. It moves the cursor to the next line. Implementation of puts() is easier than printf().
My students, who learn cin and cout first, then learn printf later, overwhelmingly prefer printf (or more usually fprintf). I myself have found the printf model sufficiently readable that I have ported it to other programming languages. So has Olivier Danvy, who has even made it type-safe.
Provided you have a compiler that is capable of type-checking calls to printf, I see no reason not to use fprintf and friends in C++.
Disclaimer: I am a terrible C++ programmer.
160
If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!
Donate Us With
