std::setw

/*unspecified*/ setw( int n );

When used in an expression out << setw(n) or in >> setw(n), sets the width parameter of the stream out or in to exactly n.

Parameters

Return value

Returns an object of unspecified type such that if str is the name of an output stream of type std::basic_ostream<CharT, Traits> or std::basic_istream<CharT, Traits>, then the expression str << setw(n) or str >> setw(n) behaves as if the following code was executed:

str.width(n);

Notes

The width property of the stream will be reset to zero (meaning "unspecified") if any of the following functions are called:

• Input
• operator>>(basic_istream&, basic_string&)
• operator>>(basic_istream&, char*)
• Output
• Overloads 1-7 of basic_ostream::operator<<() (at Stage 3 of num_put::put())
• operator<<(basic_ostream&, char) and operator<<(basic_ostream&, char*)
• operator<<(basic_ostream&, basic_string&)
• std::put_money (inside money_put::put())
• std::quoted (when used with an output stream)

The exact effects this modifier has on the input and output vary between the individual I/O functions and are described at each operator<< and operator>> overload page individually.

Example

#include <sstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>
 
int main()
{
    std::cout << "no setw:" << 42 << '\n'
              << "setw(6):" << std::setw(6) << 42 << '\n'
              << "setw(6), several elements: " << 89 << std::setw(6) << 12 << 34 << '\n';
    std::istringstream is("hello, world");
    char arr[10];
    is >> std::setw(6) >> arr;
    std::cout << "Input from \"" << is.str() << "\" with setw(6) gave \""
              << arr << "\"\n";
}

no setw:42
setw(6):    42
setw(6), several elements: 89    1234
Input from "hello, world" with setw(6) gave "hello"

See also