Is there a built-in function in Python 3 like getchar() in C++?

Question

I want to do user input in python which is similar to getchar() function used in c++.

c++ code:

#include<bits/stdc++.h>

using namespace std;
int main()
{
char ch;
while(1){
    ch=getchar();
    if(ch==' ') break;
    cout<<ch;
}
return 0;
}

Input: stack overflow

Output: stack

In the above code, when a space input from the user than the loop breaks. I want to do this in python using getchar() type function as I used in c++ code.

Possible duplicate of https://stackoverflow.com/questions/510357/python-read-a-single-character-from-the-user — Justin Randall, Feb 16 '18 at 05:19
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/510357/python-read-a-single-character-from-the-user I have seen this but I need built-in function way in python 3. To more clarify my question, I have given c++ code. — miltonbhowmick, Feb 16 '18 at 05:38
then your question title should have been something like _"Is there a built-in function in Python 3 like getchar() in C++?"_. Regardless, it seems like the possible answers are in that original question. — Justin Randall, Feb 16 '18 at 05:42
@milton. See my [answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/48820501/3091398). The second method (using STDIN) is using built in function. — CodeIt, Feb 16 '18 at 05:42
@milton Not a problem just trying to make the questions and answers helpful to the community. — Justin Randall, Feb 16 '18 at 05:56

CodeIt · Answer 1 · 2021-04-24T14:16:17.507

15

Easiest method:

Just use split function

a = input('').split(" ")[0]
print(a)

Using STDIN:

import sys
str = ""
while True:
    c = sys.stdin.read(1) # reads one byte at a time, similar to getchar()
    if c == ' ':
        break
    str += c
print(str)

Using readchar:

Install using pip install readchar

Then use the below code

import readchar
str = ""
while(1):
    c = readchar.readchar()
    if c == " ":
        break
    str += c
print(str)

edited Apr 24 '21 at 14:16

answered Feb 16 '18 at 05:20

CodeIt

3,492
3
26
37

One more question! @Codelt Is it store in the buffer register when I am using sys.stdin.read(1) for each character input? – miltonbhowmick Feb 16 '18 at 05:51
@milton. Yes, the whole input is in the buffer and we are reading it byte by byte. – CodeIt Feb 16 '18 at 05:53
Thank you so much for helping me @Codelt – miltonbhowmick Feb 16 '18 at 05:55
First example does not appear to work with Python 3. With input `hello world` it will split this into `hello` and `world` and the 0th element is `hello`. Not a single character. – FreelanceConsultant Apr 22 '21 at 10:40
@FreelanceConsultant verify using input: `stack overflow` and output: `stack` – CodeIt Apr 24 '21 at 05:19

Mitch · Answer 2 · 2021-03-16T13:22:11.500

2

Something like this should do the trick

ans = input().split(' ')[0]

edited Mar 16 '21 at 13:22

answered Feb 16 '18 at 05:19

Mitch

3,342
2
21
31

Input requires the user to hit 'enter', that's not what's asked. Accidentally, the split() is useless here. Why did you add this ? To 'clean' the output ? Rather use strip() then. – orzel Dec 25 '22 at 21:19

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 05 '21 at 10:52

2

msvcrt provides access to some useful capabilities on Windows platforms.

import msvcrt
str = ""
while True:
    c = msvcrt.getch() # reads one byte at a time, similar to getchar()
    if c == ' ':
        break
    str += c
print(str)

msvcrt is a built-in module, you can read more about in the official documentation.

edited Dec 05 '21 at 10:52

TommasoF

795
5
21

answered May 14 '20 at 06:25

run

21
1

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 31 '22 at 14:18

This will do the trick. (Probably does not work on Windows)

import sys
import termios

def getchar():
    old = termios.tcgetattr(sys.stdin)
    cbreak = old.copy()
    cbreak[3] &= ~(termios.ECHO|termios.ICANON)
    cbreak[6][termios.VMIN] = 1
    cbreak[6][termios.VTIME] = 0
    termios.tcsetattr(sys.stdin,termios.TCSADRAIN,cbreak)
    char = sys.stdin.read(1)
    termios.tcsetattr(sys.stdin,termios.TCSADRAIN,old)
    return char

if __name__ == '__main__':
    c = getchar()
    print("Key is %s" % c)

Here, the function getchar() prepares standard input to read only one character at a time using cbreak, meaning that you don't have to press enter for getchar() to read a key. This function works with all keys except for the arrow keys, in this case it will capture only the escape character (27)

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 24 '21 at 13:36

Python 3 Solution:

a = input('')        # get input from stdin with no prompt
b = a.split(" ")     # split input into words (by space " " character)
                     # returns a list object containing individual words
c = b[0]             # first element of list, a single word
d = c[0]             # first element of word, a single character
print(d)

#one liner
c = input('').split(" ")[0][0]
print(c)

Is there a built-in function in Python 3 like getchar() in C++?

5 Answers5

Python 3 Solution:

Linked