How can I get std::cin to skip invalid input characters?, C++ FAQ

C++ FAQ / Section 15 / FAQ 15.3

Section 15:

15.1	Advantages of `<iostream>` over `<cstdio>`?
15.2	Understanding infinite loop when the input is invalid?
15.3	How can I get `std::cin` to skip invalid input characters?
15.4	How does that funky `while (std::cin >> foo)` syntax work?
15.5	Why does my input seem to process past the end of file?
15.6	Why is my program ignoring my input request after the first iteration?
15.7	Should I end my output lines with `std::endl` or `'\n'`?
15.8	How can I provide printing for my `class` `Fred`?
15.9	Using a `printOn()` method vs. a `friend` function?
15.10	How can I provide input for my `class` `Fred`?
15.11	Providing printing for an entire hierarchy of classes?
15.12	How can I open a stream in binary mode?
15.13	"Reopening" `std::cin` and `std::cout` in binary mode?
15.14	How can I write/read objects of my class to/from a data file?
15.15	Sending objects over a network?
15.16	Backslashes in filenames?
15.17	How to capture key presses before the ENTER key?
15.18	How to turn off screen echo on keyboard input?
15.19	How can I move the cursor around on the screen?
15.20	How can I clear the screen?
15.21	How can I change the colors on the screen?
15.22	How can I print the numeric value of a `char` or `char*`? Updated!

[15.3] How can I get std::cin to skip invalid input characters?

Use std::cin.clear() and std::cin.ignore().

#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

int main()
{
  int age = 0;

  while ((std::cout << "How old are you? ")
         && !(std::cin >> age)) {
    std::cout << "That's not a number; ";
    std::cin.clear();
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
  }

  std::cout << "You are " << age << " years old\n";
  ...
}

Of course you can also print the error message when the input is out of range. For example, if you wanted the age to be between 1 and 200, you could change the while loop to:

  ...
  while ((std::cout << "How old are you? ")
         && (!(std::cin >> age) || age < 1 || age > 200)) {
    std::cout << "That's not a number between 1 and 200; ";
    std::cin.clear();
    std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
  }
  ...

Here's a sample run:

How old are you? foo
That's not a number between 1 and 200; How old are you? bar
That's not a number between 1 and 200; How old are you? -3
That's not a number between 1 and 200; How old are you? 0
That's not a number between 1 and 200; How old are you? 201
That's not a number between 1 and 200; How old are you? 2
You are 2 years old