setbuf

Header: <stdio.h>

Sets the internal buffer to use for stream operations. It should be at least BUFSIZ characters long.

# Declarations

void setbuf( FILE *stream, char *buffer );

(until C99)

void setbuf( FILE *restrict stream, char *restrict buffer );

(since C99)

#define BUFSIZ /*unspecified*/

# Parameters

stream: the file stream to set the buffer to
buffer: pointer to a buffer for the stream to use. If a null pointer is supplied, the buffering is turned off

# Return value

None.

# Notes

If BUFSIZ is not the appropriate buffer size, setvbuf can be used to change it.

setvbuf should also be used to detect errors, since setbuf does not indicate success or failure.

This function may only be used after stream has been associated with an open file, but before any other operation (other than a failed call to setbuf/setvbuf).

A common error is setting the buffer of stdin or stdout to an array whose lifetime ends before the program terminates:

# Example

#include <stdio.h>
#include <threads.h>
 
int main(void)
{
    setbuf(stdout, NULL); // unbuffered stdout
    putchar('a'); // 'a' appears immediately if stdout is unbuffered
    thrd_sleep(&(struct timespec){.tv_sec=1}, NULL); // sleep 1 sec
    putchar('b'); 
}