=====getline=====
Syntax:

<code>
    #include <fstream>
    istream& getline( char* buffer, streamsize num );
    istream& getline( char* buffer, streamsize num, char delim );
</code>

The getline() function is used with input streams.  The version without a char delim argument effectively sets the delimiter to a newline character.  getline() reads characters into buffer until either:

  * num - 1 characters have been read,
  * an EOF is encountered,
  * or, until the character delim is read. The delim character is not put into buffer.

If the delim character (newline normally) is not read, the input stream is set to a [[io/fail|failure state]].

For example, the following code uses the getline function to display the first 99 characters (one character is reserved for null-termination) or one line at a time from a text file -- whichever comes first -- (until EOF or a line longer than 99 characters is encountered):

<code>
    ifstream fin("tmp.dat");

    int MAX_LENGTH = 100;
    char line[MAX_LENGTH];

    while( fin.getline(line, MAX_LENGTH) ) {
      cout << "read line: " << line << endl;
    }
</code>

If you'd like to read lines from a file into strings instead of character arrays, consider using the [[string/getline|string getline]] function.

Those using a Microsoft compiler may find that getline reads an extra character, and should consult the documentation on the [[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/240015|Microsoft getline bug]].

Related Topics: [[gcount]], [[get]], [[string/getline|string getline]], [[ignore]], [[read]]