---
title: 1.2 Reading Input from the User
description: "The `scanf()` function reads formatted input from the standard input stream. This example reads an integer entered by the user and stores it in a variable. ``` #include int main() { int number; printf(\"Enter a number: \"); scanf(\"%d\", &number); printf(\"You…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/basic-refreshers/1-2-reading-input-from-the-user/"
updated: "2026-09-06"
category: C Programming / Basic Refreshers
---

# 1.2 Reading Input from the User

The `scanf()` function reads formatted input from the standard input stream. This example reads an integer entered by the user and stores it in a variable.

```
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int number;

    printf("Enter a number: ");
    scanf("%d", &number);

    printf("You entered: %d\n", number);

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
Enter a number: 25
You entered: 25
```

### Explanation

The variable is declared before reading the input:

```
int number;
```

The `scanf()` call reads an integer using the `%d` conversion specifier:

```
scanf("%d", &number);
```

`&number` supplies the address of `number`, allowing `scanf()` to store the input value in that variable.

The value is then displayed using `printf()`:

```
printf("You entered: %d\n", number);
```

The format specifier used by `scanf()` must correspond to the type of the object receiving the input.

### Common `scanf()` Format Specifiers

| Data type | Format specifier |
| --- | --- |
| `char` | `%c` |
| `short` | `%hd` |
| `int` | `%d` |
| `unsigned int` | `%u` |
| `long` | `%ld` |
| `long long` | `%lld` |
| `float` | `%f` |
| `double` | `%lf` |
| `long double` | `%Lf` |

For `scanf()`, the address of the destination object is generally supplied using `&`. String arrays are an important exception because an array expression is converted to a pointer to its first element.