How to Get Keystrokes in C++

Capture individual keystrokes in C++.

Use the "cin >>" function in C++ to capture user input from the keyboard. You get the entered characters when the user presses the Enter key. Include the "conio.h" function library in your source code to access the "_getchar()" function to capture individual keystrokes as they are entered. Avoid using the older C "getchar()" function to capture individual keystrokes. This method is now deprecated and is not in compliance with ISO C++ standard.

Instructions

1. Include the console input/output function library in the header of your source code with the Include command:

   #include <conio.h>

2. Declare a variable to hold the captured input with the statement:

   int a;

3. Assign the variable a value based on the keystroke with the function:

   a = _getch();

Tips & Warnings

• The "_getch()" function does not echo input to the screen. View the input capture with this function using "_putch(a);" inside the loop used to capture keystrokes.

References

• Microsoft Developer's Network: getch
• Microsoft TechNet: _getch, _getwch