%c format specifier limitation.

The limitation of %c format specification is that, it receives the white space characters also. The white space character includes tab, space, enter etc. This limitation of %c format specifier can be rectified by %1s format specifier. The %1s format specifier can be used to receive a non white space character.

Look at the following program:

#include <stdio.h>

#include <conio.h>

void main()

{

          char ch;

clrscr();

printf(“Enter any character:”);

scanf(“%c”,,&ch);

printf(“”\nInputted character is=%c”,ch);

getch();

}

Run the program and press Enter. You will get the following output.

Output:

#----------------------------------------------------------------#

Enter any character:<Enter>

inputted character is=

#----------------------------------------------------------------#

Fixing the limitation of %c format specification by using %1s format specifier.

#include <stdio.h>

#include <conio.h>

void main()

{

          char ch;

clrscr();

printf(“Enter any character:”);

scanf(“%1s”,,&ch);

printf(“”\nInputted character is=%c”,ch);

getch();

}

Now, run the program and press Enter or try pressing any other white space character. The program does nothing until you provide the character from the console.

#----------------------------------------------------------------#

Enter any character:<Enter>

<Enter>

<space><Enter>

y

inputted character is=y

#----------------------------------------------------------------#