MFC Programmer's SourceBook : Thinking in C++
Bruce Eckel's Thinking in C++, 2nd Ed Contents | Prev | Next

18: Iostreams

So far in this book we’ve used the old reliable C standard I/O library, a perfect example of a library that begs to be turned into a class.

In fact, there’s much more you can do with the general I/O problem than just take standard I/O and turn it into a class. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could make all the usual “receptacles” – standard I/O, files and even blocks of memory – look the same, so you need to remember only one interface? That’s the idea behind iostreams. They’re much easier, safer, and often more efficient than the assorted functions from the Standard C stdio library.

Iostream is usually the first class library that new C++ programmers learn to use. This chapter explores the use of iostreams, so they can replace the C I/O functions through the rest of the book. In future chapters, you’ll see how to set up your own classes so they’re compatible with iostreams.

Contents | Prev | Next


Go to CodeGuru.com
Contact: webmaster@codeguru.com
© Copyright 1997-1999 CodeGuru