C++ Pause in Linux

As a C++ programmer in Linux, you may need to pause your program to either analyze something or wait for user input. In this guide, we will discuss different ways to pause a running C++ program in Linux.

Method 1: Using std::cin.ignore()

The simplest way to pause a C++ program in Linux is by using the std::cin.ignore() function. This function discards one or more characters from the input buffer until it reaches the end of the line.

Here's an example:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Press enter to continue..." << std::endl;
    std::cin.ignore();
    std::cout << "Continuing..." << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

When you run this program, it will display a message asking you to press enter to continue. Once you press enter, the program will continue.

Method 2: Using std::cin.get()

Another way to pause a C++ program in Linux is by using the std::cin.get() function. This function waits for the user to press a key and returns the ASCII code of the key pressed.

Here's an example:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Press any key to continue..." << std::endl;
    std::cin.get();
    std::cout << "Continuing..." << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

When you run this program, it will display a message asking you to press any key to continue. Once you press a key, the program will continue.

Method 3: Using system("pause")

Another way to pause a C++ program in Linux is by using the system("pause") function. This function executes a system command to pause the program until the user presses a key.

Here's an example:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Press any key to continue..." << std::endl;
    system("pause");
    std::cout << "Continuing..." << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

When you run this program, it will display a message asking you to press any key to continue. Once you press a key, the program will continue.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have discussed different ways to pause a running C++ program in Linux. You can choose the method that best suits your needs.