What is the main difference between next() and nextLine()?
My main goal is to read the all text using a Scanner which may be "connected" to any source (file for example).
Which one should I choose and why?
I always prefer to read input using nextLine() and then parse the string.
Using next() will only return what comes before the delimiter (defaults to whitespace). nextLine() automatically moves the scanner down after returning the current line.
A useful tool for parsing data from nextLine() would be str.split("\\s+").
String data = scanner.nextLine();
String[] pieces = data.split("\\s+");
// Parse the pieces
For more information regarding the Scanner class or String class refer to the following links.
Scanner: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/util/Scanner.html
String: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/lang/String.html
next() can read the input only till the space. It can't read two words separated by a space. Also, next() places the cursor in the same line after reading the input.
nextLine() reads input including space between the words (that is, it reads till the end of line \n). Once the input is read, nextLine() positions the cursor in the next line.
For reading the entire line you can use nextLine().
From JavaDoc:
A Scanner breaks its input into tokens using a delimiter pattern, which by default matches whitespace.
next(): Finds and returns the next complete token from this scanner.
nextLine(): Advances this scanner past the current line and returns the input that was skipped.
So in case of "small example<eol>text" next() should return "small" and nextLine() should return "small example"
The key point is to find where the method will stop and where the cursor will be after calling the methods.
All methods will read information which does not include whitespace between the cursor position and the next default delimiters(whitespace, tab, \n--created by pressing Enter). The cursor stops before the delimiters except for nextLine(), which reads information (including whitespace created by delimiters) between the cursor position and \n, and the cursor stops behind \n.
For example, consider the following illustration:
|23_24_25_26_27\n
| -> the current cursor position
_ -> whitespace
stream -> Bold (the information got by the calling method)
See what happens when you call these methods:
nextInt()
read 23|_24_25_26_27\n
nextDouble()
read 23_24|_25_26_27\n
next()
read 23_24_25|_26_27\n
nextLine()
read 23_24_25_26_27\n|
After this, the method should be called depending on your requirement.
What I have noticed apart from next() scans only upto space where as nextLine() scans the entire line is that next waits till it gets a complete token where as nextLine() does not wait for complete token, when ever '\n' is obtained(i.e when you press enter key) the scanner cursor moves to the next line and returns the previous line skipped. It does not check for the whether you have given complete input or not, even it will take an empty string where as next() does not take empty string
public class ScannerTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
int cases = sc.nextInt();
String []str = new String[cases];
for(int i=0;i<cases;i++){
str[i]=sc.next();
}
}
}
Try this program by changing the next() and nextLine() in for loop, go on pressing '\n' that is enter key without any input, you can find that using nextLine() method it terminates after pressing given number of cases where as next() doesnot terminate untill you provide and input to it for the given number of cases.
next() and nextLine() methods are associated with Scanner and is used for getting String inputs. Their differences are...
next() can read the input only till the space. It can't read two words separated by space. Also, next() places the cursor in the same line after reading the input.
nextLine() reads input including space between the words (that is, it reads till the end of line \n). Once the input is read, nextLine() positions the cursor in the next line.
import java.util.Scanner;
public class temp
{
public static void main(String arg[])
{
Scanner sc=new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.println("enter string for c");
String c=sc.next();
System.out.println("c is "+c);
System.out.println("enter string for d");
String d=sc.next();
System.out.println("d is "+d);
}
}
Output:
enter string for c
abc def
c is abc
enter string for d
d is def
If you use nextLine() instead of next() then
Output:
enter string for c
ABC DEF
c is ABC DEF
enter string for d
GHI
d is GHI
In short: if you are inputting a string array of length t, then Scanner#nextLine() expects t lines, each entry in the string array is differentiated from the other by enter key.And Scanner#next() will keep taking inputs till you press enter but stores string(word) inside the array, which is separated by whitespace.
Lets have a look at following snippet of code
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
int t = in.nextInt();
String[] s = new String[t];
for (int i = 0; i < t; i++) {
s[i] = in.next();
}
when I run above snippet of code in my IDE (lets say for string length 2),it does not matter whether I enter my string as
Input as :- abcd abcd or
Input as :-
abcd
abcd
Output will be like
abcd
abcd
But if in same code we replace next() method by nextLine()
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
int t = in.nextInt();
String[] s = new String[t];
for (int i = 0; i < t; i++) {
s[i] = in.nextLine();
}
Then if you enter input on prompt as -
abcd abcd
Output is :-
abcd abcd
and if you enter the input on prompt as
abcd (and if you press enter to enter next abcd in another line, the input prompt will just exit and you will get the output)
Output is:-
abcd
From javadocs
next() Returns the next token if it matches the pattern constructed from the specified string.
nextLine() Advances this scanner past the current line and returns the input that was skipped.
Which one you choose depends which suits your needs best. If it were me reading a whole file I would go for nextLine until I had all the file.
From the documentation for Scanner:
A Scanner breaks its input into tokens using a delimiter pattern, which by default matches whitespace.
From the documentation for next():
A complete token is preceded and followed by input that matches the delimiter pattern.
Just for another example of Scanner.next() and nextLine() is that like below :
nextLine() does not let user type while next() makes Scanner wait and read the input.
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
do {
System.out.println("The values on dice are :");
for(int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
System.out.println(ran.nextInt(6) + 1);
}
System.out.println("Continue : yes or no");
} while(sc.next().equals("yes"));
// while(sc.nextLine().equals("yes"));
Both functions are used to move to the next Scanner token.
The difference lies in how the scanner token is generated
next() generates scanner tokens using delimiter as White Space
nextLine() generates scanner tokens using delimiter as '\n' (i.e Enter
key presses)
A scanner breaks its input into tokens using a delimiter pattern, which is by default known the Whitespaces.
Next() uses to read a single word and when it gets a white space,it stops reading and the cursor back to its original position.
NextLine() while this one reads a whole word even when it meets a whitespace.the cursor stops when it finished reading and cursor backs to the end of the line.
so u don't need to use a delimeter when you want to read a full word as a sentence.you just need to use NextLine().
public static void main(String[] args) {
// TODO code application logic here
String str;
Scanner input = new Scanner( System.in );
str=input.nextLine();
System.out.println(str);
}
I also got a problem concerning a delimiter.
the question was all about inputs of
enter your name.
enter your age.
enter your email.
enter your address.
The problem
I finished successfully with name, age, and email.
When I came up with the address of two words having a whitespace (Harnet street) I just got the first one "harnet".
The solution
I used the delimiter for my scanner and went out successful.
Example
public static void main (String args[]){
//Initialize the Scanner this way so that it delimits input using a new line character.
Scanner s = new Scanner(System.in).useDelimiter("\n");
System.out.println("Enter Your Name: ");
String name = s.next();
System.out.println("Enter Your Age: ");
int age = s.nextInt();
System.out.println("Enter Your E-mail: ");
String email = s.next();
System.out.println("Enter Your Address: ");
String address = s.next();
System.out.println("Name: "+name);
System.out.println("Age: "+age);
System.out.println("E-mail: "+email);
System.out.println("Address: "+address);
}
The basic difference is next() is used for gettting the input till the delimiter is encountered(By default it is whitespace,but you can also change it) and return the token which you have entered.The cursor then remains on the Same line.Whereas in nextLine() it scans the input till we hit enter button and return the whole thing and places the cursor in the next line.
**
Scanner sc=new Scanner(System.in);
String s[]=new String[2];
for(int i=0;i<2;i++){
s[i]=sc.next();
}
for(int j=0;j<2;j++)
{
System.out.println("The string at position "+j+ " is "+s[j]);
}
**
Try running this code by giving Input as "Hello World".The scanner reads the input till 'o' and then a delimiter occurs.so s[0] will be "Hello" and cursor will be pointing to the next position after delimiter(that is 'W' in our case),and when s[1] is read it scans the "World" and return it to s[1] as the next complete token(by definition of Scanner).If we use nextLine() instead,it will read the "Hello World" fully and also more till we hit the enter button and store it in s[0].
We may give another string also by using nextLine(). I recommend you to try using this example and more and ask for any clarification.
The difference can be very clear with the code below and its output.
public static void main(String[] args) {
List<String> arrayList = new ArrayList<>();
List<String> arrayList2 = new ArrayList<>();
Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
String product = input.next();
while(!product.equalsIgnoreCase("q")) {
arrayList.add(product);
product = input.next();
}
System.out.println("You wrote the following products \n");
for (String naam : arrayList) {
System.out.println(naam);
}
product = input.nextLine();
System.out.println("Enter a product");
while (!product.equalsIgnoreCase("q")) {
arrayList2.add(product);
System.out.println("Enter a product");
product = input.nextLine();
}
System.out.println();
System.out.println();
System.out.println();
System.out.println();
System.out.println("You wrote the following products \n");
for (String naam : arrayList2) {
System.out.println(naam);
}
}
Output:
Enter a product
aaa aaa
Enter a product
Enter a product
bb
Enter a product
ccc cccc ccccc
Enter a product
Enter a product
Enter a product
q
You wrote the following products
aaa
aaa
bb
ccc
cccc
ccccc
Enter a product
Enter a product
aaaa aaaa aaaa
Enter a product
bb
Enter a product
q
You wrote the following products
aaaa aaaa aaaa
bb
Quite clear that the default delimiter space is adding the products separated by space to the list when next is used, so each time space separated strings are entered on a line, they are different strings.
With nextLine, space has no significance and the whole line is one string.
am stuck with this question
6) Suppose you enter 34.3, the ENTER key, 57.8, the ENTER key, 789, the ENTER key. Analyze the following code.
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
int value = scanner.nextDouble();
int doubleValue = scanner.nextInt();
String line = scanner.nextLine();
i know the answer, the line will be equal to '\n' when the last statement is executed but why?
can anyone please explain it for me please?
The Scanner reads as many tokens as necessary to get it's next output and then leaves all of the rest of the tokens there to be examined. nextInt() does not need the newline character so it leaves it in the token stream. When you call nextLine() it looks into the token stream, sees the newline character, and returns that.
Let's break this statement by statement.
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
int value = scanner.nextDouble();
The system waits for you to type in the value.
34.3↲
The value is read as 34.3 but is truncated to 34 since it is stored as an integer. Now the next statement is executed.
int doubleValue = scanner.nextInt();
The system waits for you again to type in the value.
57.8↲
The value is read as 57 as you are using scanner.nextInt() and hence, the .8 is ignored. There is however a enter remaining in the buffer.
String line = scanner.nextLine();
The system now waits again for the input, and you type in this. The first new line is the remnant from the previous input.
↲
789↲
The scanner first sees the newline character, so it assumes that the line is terminated. So the value is read as \n
Hope this helps.
For avoiding any unwanted character which has been entered in console like \n
we use nextInt() or nextLine() etc.
But in these cases actually the control is going a step ahead leaving the unwanted string or something like this.
But I want to delete or flush out the memory of buffer in which other unwanted data is taken by the system.
For example -->
Scanner scan=new Scanner(System.in);
scan.nextInt();
scan.nextline();//this statement will be skipped
because the system is taking \n as a line next to the integer given as input.
In this case without using scan.nextLine() I want to simply clear/flush out the buffer memory where the \n was stored.
Now please tell me how to delete the input buffer memory in java
Thank you. :)
You can use this to clear all existing data in the buffer:
while(sc.hasNext()) {
sc.next();
}
If you are only doing this to remove the newline (\n) characters from the input, you can use:
while(sc.hasNext("\n")) {
sc.next();
}
If the goal is to only read integers and skip any other characters, this would work:
while(sc.hasNext() && !sc.hasNextInt()) {
sc.next();
}
you can simply use one more scan.nextLine() before taking the string as input.
Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
int x = scan.nextInt();
scan.nextLine(); // clears the input buffer
String s = scan.nextLine(); // this statement won't get skip
Reference : the solution to this hackerrank question uses the same idea which I provided
I have created a simple Java application using readLine() of BufferedReader. The code is as follows:
import java.io.*;
class demo_data
{
public static void main(String hh[])throws Exception
{
char c=' ';
int i=0;
String name="";
BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
System.out.print("Enter char:");
c=(char)br.read();
System.out.print("Enter String:");
name=br.readLine();
System.out.print("Enter value:");
i=Integer.parseInt(br.readLine());
System.out.print("\tChar:"+c+"\tName:"+name+"\tValue:"+i);
}
}
My problem is that after reading character value, the string statement is skipped and I'm not able to read the value for variable name. If I read a char value and then try to read int value it throws a NumberFormatException. Why?
BufferedReader#read(), reads a single character from your input. It does not read the linefeed at the end of the input.
So, your linefeed goes as input to the br.readLine you have after your br.read. Now, if you enter a string for the 2nd br.readLine, it is actually goind to the 3rd one. And hence that Exception.
So, your name variable will contain a linefeed - \n, and the string which you passed for name goes to your int i.
Workaround: -
Try adding an empty br.readLine after br.read() to consume the left over linfeed: -
c=(char)br.read();
br.readLine(); // Add an empty `br.readLine here.
System.out.print("Enter String:");
name=br.readLine();
Or, you can also go with #Peter's answer below
The call to readLine() immediately returns because of the newLine that will still be in the buffer after you entered the first char.
Add an extra br.readLine() to fix this:
System.out.print("Enter char:");
c=(char)br.read();
br.readLine();
System.out.print("Enter String:");
name=br.readLine();
In each case you are really reading a line at a time not just one character and one number.
System.out.print("Enter char:");
char c = br.readLine().charAt(0);
System.out.print("Enter String:");
String name = br.readLine();
System.out.print("Enter value:");
int i = Integer.parseInt(br.readLine());
sry about my english :)
Im new to Java programming and i have a problem with Scanner. I need to read an Int, show some stuff and then read a string so i use sc.nextInt(); show my stuff showMenu(); and then try to read a string palabra=sc.nextLine();
Some one told me i need to use a sc.nextLine(); after sc.nextInt(); but i dont understand why do you have to do it :(
Here is my code:
public static void main(String[] args) {
// TODO code application logic here
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
int respuesta = 1;
showMenu();
respuesta = sc.nextInt();
sc.nextLine(); //Why is this line necessary for second scan to work?
switch (respuesta){
case 1:
System.out.println("=== Palindromo ===");
String palabra = sc.nextLine();
if (esPalindromo(palabra) == true)
System.out.println("Es Palindromo");
else
System.out.println("No es Palindromo");
break;
}
}
Ty so much for your time and Help :D
nextInt() only reads in until it's found the int and then stops.
You have to do nextLine() because the input stream still has a newline character and possibly other non-int data on the line. Calling nextLine() reads in whatever data is left, including the enter the user pressed between entering an int and entering a String.
When you input a value (whether String, int, double, etc...) and hit 'enter,' a new-line character (aka '\n') will be appended to the end of your input. So, if you're entering an int, sc.nextInt() will only read the integer entered and leave the '\n' behind in the buffer. So, the way to fix this is to add a sc.nextLine() that will read the leftover and throw it away. This is why you need to have that one line of code in your program.