std::basic_filebuf<CharT,Traits>::setbuf

If s is a null pointer and n is zero, the filebuf becomes unbuffered for output, meaning pbase() and pptr()

Otherwise, a call to setbuf() replaces the internal buffer (the controlled character sequence) with the user-supplied character array whose first element is pointed to by s and allows this std::basic_filebuf object to use up to n

This function is protected virtual, it may only be called through pubsetbuf() or from member functions of a user-defined class derived from std::basic_filebuf.

Parameters

Return value

this

Notes

The conditions when this function may be used and the way in which the provided buffer is used is implementation-defined.

• GCC 4.6 libstdc++

setbuf() may only be called when the std::basic_filebuf is not associated with a file (has no effect otherwise). With a user-provided buffer, reading from file reads n-1

• Clang++3.0 libc++

setbuf() may be called after opening the file, but before any I/O (may crash otherwise). With a user-provided buffer, reading from file reads largest multiples of 4096 that fit in the buffer.

• Visual Studio 2010

setbuf() may be called at any time, even after some I/O took place. Current contents of the buffer, if any, are lost.

The standard does not define any behavior for this function except that setbuf(0, 0)

Example

#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
int main()
{
    int cnt = 0;
    std::ifstream file;
    char buf[10241];
 
    file.rdbuf()->pubsetbuf(buf, sizeof buf);
    file.open("/usr/share/dict/words");
 
    for (std::string line; getline(file, line);)
        ++cnt;
    std::cout << cnt << '\n';
}

356010

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

See also