Reading Whole Lines with getline

getline reads everything

To read a full line – including spaces – use getline(cin, variable):

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    string fullName;
    cout << "Full name: ";
    getline(cin, fullName);
    cout << "Hello, " << fullName << "!\n";
    return 0;
}

Input (what the user types)

Arjun Mehta

Output

Full name: Hello, Arjun Mehta!

Mixing cin >> and getline

There is one famous trap. After cin >> reads a number, the Enter key the user pressed is still waiting. A getline straight after reads that empty leftover line instead of the real text.

The fix: call cin.ignore() to throw that leftover Enter away before getline:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int age;
    string city;
    cout << "Age: ";
    cin >> age;
    cin.ignore();               // throw away the Enter after the number
    cout << "City: ";
    getline(cin, city);
    cout << age << " years old, living in " << city << "\n";
    return 0;
}

Input (what the user types)

30
New Delhi

Output

Age: City: 30 years old, living in New Delhi

Remember: Going from cin >> to getline? Put cin.ignore(); in between.