INFO: Endl Flushes the cout Buffer Immediately Upon Execution

ID: Q83081

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0

SUMMARY

In these products, the cout class uses a buffering system for data that may not be flushed immediately. Because cout usually handles small messages, several messages are usually needed to fill the buffer, which will cause the data to be written to the standard output handle. In some cases, this can cause considerable delay when writing output to the screen during a debugging session. This problem can be avoided, however, by using the endl manipulator. When appended to the end of a cout call, the endl manipulator inserts a newline character and then flushes the buffer.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code


/* Compile options needed: none
*/ 

#include <iostream.h>

void main(void)
{
  cout << "This string will be buffered";
  cout << "This string will be flushed immediately" <<endl;
}

For more information on the other methods to flush the cout buffer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q94227 INFO: Output Stream cout Is Buffered

Additional query words: 8.00 8.00c 9.00 9.10 CodeView CVW

Keywords : kbLangCPP kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600
Version : MS-DOS:7.0; WINDOWS:1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52; WINDOWS NT:1.0,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0
Platform : MS-DOS NT WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo