Lesson 4.3. putchar

putchar() is a function of the stdio.h library. It is intended to write a single character to the console.

Example

Here are some examples of charcters displayed with putchar:

putchar ('H');    // Upper-case H
putchar ('i');    // Lower-case i
putchar ('\t');   // Tabulation
putchar ('\\');   // backslash
putchar (65);     // ASCII 65 = upper-case A
putchar('\n');    // Line feed

Try online

printf

The printf() function calls the putchar() function. For example, when we display Hello, the function calls (in a simplified way) the following sequence:

putchar('H');
putchar('e');
putchar('l');
putchar('l');
putchar('o');

On some embedded systems, in particular microcontrollers, we may have to write our own putchar function. This one will display the character on the output (LCD screen, serial terminal, USB link, wireless transmission ...) programmed in the function.

It will then be possible to redirect the flow from the printf function to putchar , and thus to display on any support.

printf ("Hello World!");

displays after redirection:

Quiz

What does the following code display?

putchar ('a');

The content of the variable a as a character.

The content of the variable a as an integer.

The lower case character a.

97, the ASCII code of the letter a.

Check Bravo! The putchar() function displays as a character.

What does the following code display?

putchar (a);

The content of the variable a as a character.

The content of the variable a as an integer.

The lower case character a.

97, the ASCII code of the letter a.

Check Bravo! The content of the variable a is displayed as a character.

What does the following code display?

putchar (97);

Ça ne compile pas

Check

How to display "Hello" with the function putchar?

putchar ('Hello');

putchar ("Hello");

It will take 5 calls of the function, one for each character.

This is not possible.

Check

Lesson 4.2 Summary Lesson 5.1

Lesson 4.3. putchar

Example

printf

Quiz

See also