Question

In C++, what happens to excess input, if it is given? Does it get stored somewhere or is completely ignored?

For example, this sample code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
   char a, b, c;

   cout << "Enter three letters: ";

   cin.get(a).get(b).get(c);

   cout << "a: " << a << "\nb: " << b << "\nc: " << c << endl;
 return 0;
}

Which just asks for three letters, will let me type in as many as I want. Where do all the rest go? Preferably nowhere… right?

Answer 1

They go into an input buffer. When your process exits (without reading them) the buffer is discarded (and the unread contents along with it).