| description | title | ms.date | helpviewer_keywords | ms.assetid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Learn more about: Input/Output Alternatives |
Input-Output Alternatives |
05/07/2019 |
|
9f8401c7-d90d-4285-8918-63573df74a80 |
The Microsoft C++ compiler provides several alternatives for I/O programming:
-
C run-time library direct, unbuffered I/O.
-
ANSI C run-time library stream I/O.
-
Console and port direct I/O.
-
Microsoft Foundation Class Library.
-
Microsoft C++ Standard Library.
The iostream classes are useful for buffered, formatted text I/O. They are also useful for unbuffered or binary I/O if you need a C++ programming interface and decide not to use the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) library. The iostream classes are an object-oriented I/O alternative to the C run-time functions.
You can use iostream classes with the Microsoft Windows operating system. String and file streams work without restrictions, but the character-mode stream objects cin, cout, cerr, and clog are inconsistent with the Windows graphical user interface. You can also derive custom stream classes that interact directly with the Windows environment.