Getting multiple values with scanf()

Question

I am using scanf() to get a set of ints from the user. But I would like the user to supply all 4 ints at once instead of 4 different promps. I know I can get one value by doing:

scanf( "%i", &minx);

But I would like the user to be able to do something like:

Enter Four Ints: 123 234 345 456

Is it possible to do this?

@Josh Curren %d converts input as if it is a decimal representation. %i converts input as if it is a decimal, hexadecimal or octal string using the usual leading 0, 0x, 0X to steer toward octal or hexadecimal. Example: "010" converts differently. — chux
– chux, Commented Nov 15, 2013 at 19:42

Reed Copsey · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-11 18:20:45Z

71

You can do this with a single call, like so:

scanf( "%i %i %i %i", &minx, &maxx, &miny, &maxy);

answered Sep 11, 2009 at 18:20

Reed Copsey

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5 Comments

Josh Curren Over a year ago

you can use %d %i %o %x %X for ints.. montcs.bloomu.edu/~bobmon/Information/LowLevel-Programming/…

Chris Lutz Over a year ago

%d is almost identical to %i. They do the same thing in most cases.

Jonathan Leffler Over a year ago

@Chris: under what circumstance does %i not do what %d does?

Chris Lutz Over a year ago

@Jonathan Leffer - According to my scanf manpage, "%i" reads the int in base 16 if it begins with 0x and in base 8 if it begins with 0 and base 10 otherwise. "%d" reads in base 10 always. And the Open Group manpage agrees with mine.

Reed Copsey Over a year ago

@wrang-wrang: Yes, it should. Normally, if you'd use a %d, though, unless you expect non-base 10 numeric data entry.

Jonathan Graehl · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-11 18:20:45Z

10

Yes.

int minx, miny, maxx,maxy;
do {
   printf("enter four integers: ");
} while (scanf("%d %d %d %d", &minx, &miny, &maxx, &maxy)!=4);

The loop is just to demonstrate that scanf returns the number of fields succesfully read (or EOF).

answered Sep 11, 2009 at 18:20

Jonathan Graehl

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2 Comments

Jonathan Leffler Over a year ago

The only trouble with that code is that if the user enters just 1 value, then they have to re-enter all 4 values on the next cycle.

Spikatrix Over a year ago

This will turn into an infinite loop if I enter invalid data(like characters)

nos · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-11 18:21:05Z

8

int a,b,c,d;
if(scanf("%d %d %d %d",&a,&b,&c,&d) == 4) {
   //read the 4 integers
} else {
   puts("Error. Please supply 4 integers");
}

answered Sep 11, 2009 at 18:21

nos

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Comments

fcdt · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-22 21:48:38Z

4

Just to add, we can use array as well:

int i, array[4];
printf("Enter Four Ints: ");
for(i=0; i<4; i++) {
    scanf("%d", &array[i]);
}

edited Sep 22, 2020 at 21:48

fcdt

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answered Sep 22, 2020 at 19:01

Rohit Kumar Pradhan

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Comments

l3dx · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-11 18:23:25Z

1

Could do this, but then the user has to separate the numbers by a space:

#include "stdio.h"

int main()
{
    int minx, x, y, z;

    printf("Enter four ints: ");
    scanf( "%i %i %i %i", &minx, &x, &y, &z);

    printf("You wrote: %i %i %i %i", minx, x, y, z);
}

answered Sep 11, 2009 at 18:23

l3dx

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1 Comment

chux Over a year ago

"user has to separate the numbers by a space" is not so. User input could be "12-34+56-78".

Maniruzzaman Akash · Accepted Answer · 2021-06-02 15:32:36Z

1

The question is old, but if someone could help from this with real-life example.

For Single Input data -

int number;
printf("Please enter number : ");
scanf("%d", &number);

For Multiple Input data at a line -

int number1, number2;
printf("Please enter numbers one by one : ");
scanf("%d %d", &number1, &number2);

%d %d is for decimal format. You could use format which is suitable for your data type as many as needs with just a space
&number1, &number2 - Use comma between variable names

If needs More real-life example check this practical example - https://devsenv.com/tutorials/how-to-take-input-and-output-in-c-programming

Hope, this will help someone.

answered Jun 2, 2021 at 15:32

Maniruzzaman Akash

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Comments

chux · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-03 13:05:03Z

-1

Passable for getting multiple values with scanf()

int r,m,v,i,e,k;

scanf("%d%d%d%d%d%d",&r,&m,&v,&i,&e,&k);

edited Apr 3, 2015 at 13:05

chux

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answered Oct 14, 2014 at 10:59

R.M.VIVEK ARNI

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Comments

Suraj Rao · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-13 15:27:02Z

-2

int a[1000] ;
for(int i = 0 ; i <= 3 , i++)
scanf("%d" , &a[i]) ;

edited Nov 13, 2020 at 15:27

Suraj Rao

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answered Nov 13, 2020 at 15:22

saba razi

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