GETCHAR(III) 4/7/73 GETCHAR(III)
NAME
getchar - read character
SYNOPSIS
getchar( )
DESCRIPTION
Getchar provides the simplest means of reading characters
from the standard input for C programs. It returns
successive characters until end-of-file, when it returns
``\0''.
Associated with this routine is an external variable called
fin, which is a structure containing a buffer such as
described under getc (III).
Normally input via getchar is unbuffered, but if the file-
descriptor (first) word of fin is non-zero, getchar calls
getc with fin as argument. This means that
fin = open(...)
makes getchar return (buffered) input from the opened file;
also
fin = dup(0);
causes the standard input to be buffered.
Generally speaking, getchar should be used only for the
simplest applications; getc is better when there are
multiple input files.
SEE ALSO
getc (III)
DIAGNOSTICS
Null character returned on EOF or error.
BUGS
-1 should be returned on EOF; null is a legitimate
character.