We can use the scanf() function to take input from the person running the program and assign the value to a variable. Here’s how it looks:
scanf("%d", &Number);
As with printf() we must use the right sign, here we will be dealing with an integer so we use %d. The second parameter is the variable to which we want to assign the value.
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int Number1, Number2, Sum;
printf("Enter a number:");
scanf("%d", &Number1);
printf("Enter another number:");
scanf("%d", &Number2);
Sum = Number1 + Number2;
printf("The sum of %d and %d is %d", Number1, Number2, Sum);
}
Now this program is more interesting. It asks the program user for input. It then assigns the first integer value to Number1:
scanf("%d", &Number1);
Then it asks them for another number and assigns that to Number2:
scanf("%d", &Number2);
Then it adds the two values together and prints out the result:
Sum = Number1 + Number2;
printf("The sum of %d and %d is %d", Number1, Number2, Sum);
But you ask, why does the variable name have a ’&’ in front of it? Well when we’re dealing with scanf() we must preceed the variable name with that ’&’ sign. You must do this because you are storing the input directly into a memory location. For now, just don’t forget the ’&’.
Let’s do it with a char.
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
char Letter;
printf("Enter a letter:");
scanf("%c", &Letter);
printf("Your letter is %c", Letter);
}
scanf()is a very useful function, play around with it for a while, try modifying the program a little, maybe take two letters. When you’re happy continue.
