# std::basic_ostream

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< cpp‎ | io

Defined in header `<ostream>` |  |
template< class CharT, class Traits = std::char_traits<CharT> > class basic_ostream : virtual public std::basic_ios<CharT, Traits> |  |

The class template `basic_ostream` provides support for high level output operations on character streams. The supported operations include formatted output (e.g. integer values) and unformatted output (e.g. raw characters and character arrays). This functionality is implemented in terms of the interface provided by the `basic_streambuf` class, accessed through the `basic_ios` base class. In typical implementations, `basic_ostream` has no non-inherited data members.

Inheritance diagram

Two specializations for common character types are also defined:

Defined in header `<ostream>`
Type | Definition
`ostream` | basic_ostream<char>
`wostream` | basic_ostream<wchar_t>

### Global objects

Six global basic_ostream objects are provided by the standard library.

Defined in header `<iostream>`
cout wcout | writes to the standard C output stream stdout (global object)
cerr wcerr | writes to the standard C error stream stderr, unbuffered (global object)
clog wclog | writes to the standard C error stream stderr (global object)

### Member types

Member type | Definition
`char_type` | CharT
`traits_type` | Traits; the program is ill-formed if `Traits::char_type` is not `CharT`.
`int_type` | Traits::int_type
`pos_type` | Traits::pos_type
`off_type` | Traits::off_type

### Member functions

(constructor) | constructs the object (public member function)
(destructor) [virtual] | destructs the object (virtual public member function)
operator= (C++11) | move-assigns from another `basic_ostream` (protected member function)

##### Formatted output

operator<< | inserts formatted data (public member function)

##### Unformatted output

put | inserts a character (public member function)
write | inserts blocks of characters (public member function)

##### Positioning

tellp | returns the output position indicator (public member function)
seekp | sets the output position indicator (public member function)

##### Miscellaneous

flush | synchronizes with the underlying storage device (public member function)
swap (C++11) | swaps stream objects, except for the associated buffer (protected member function)

### Member classes

sentry | implements basic logic for preparation of the stream for output operations (public member class)

### Non-member functions

operator<<(std::basic_ostream) | inserts character data (function template)

## Inherited from std::basic_ios

### Member types

Member type | Definition
`char_type` | CharT
`traits_type` | Traits
`int_type` | Traits::int_type
`pos_type` | Traits::pos_type
`off_type` | Traits::off_type

### Member functions

##### State functions

good | checks if no error has occurred i.e. I/O operations are available (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
eof | checks if end-of-file has been reached (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
fail | checks if an error has occurred (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
bad | checks if a non-recoverable error has occurred (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
operator! | checks if an error has occurred (synonym of fail()) (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
operator void*operator bool (until C++11)(since C++11) | checks if no error has occurred (synonym of !fail()) (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
rdstate | returns state flags (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
setstate | sets state flags (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
clear | modifies state flags (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)

##### Formatting

copyfmt | copies formatting information (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
fill | manages the fill character (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)

##### Miscellaneous

exceptions | manages exception mask (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
imbue | sets the locale (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
rdbuf | manages associated stream buffer (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
tie | manages tied stream (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
narrow | narrows characters (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)
widen | widens characters (public member function of `std::basic_ios<CharT,Traits>`)

## Inherited from std::ios_base

### Member functions

##### Formatting

flags | manages format flags (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
setf | sets specific format flag (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
unsetf | clears specific format flag (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
precision | manages decimal precision of floating point operations (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
width | manages field width (public member function of `std::ios_base`)

##### Locales

imbue | sets locale (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
getloc | returns current locale (public member function of `std::ios_base`)

##### Internal extensible array

xalloc [static] | returns a program-wide unique integer that is safe to use as index to pword() and iword() (public static member function of `std::ios_base`)
iword | resizes the private storage if necessary and access to the long element at the given index (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
pword | resizes the private storage if necessary and access to the void* element at the given index (public member function of `std::ios_base`)

##### Miscellaneous

register_callback | registers event callback function (public member function of `std::ios_base`)
sync_with_stdio [static] | sets whether C++ and C IO libraries are interoperable (public static member function of `std::ios_base`)

##### Member classes

failure | stream exception (public member class of `std::ios_base`)
Init | initializes standard stream objects (public member class of `std::ios_base`)

### Member types and constants

Type | Explanation

openmode

stream open mode type

The following constants are also defined:

Constant | Explanation
`app` | seek to the end of stream before each write
`binary` | open in binary mode
`in` | open for reading
`out` | open for writing
`trunc` | discard the contents of the stream when opening
`ate` | seek to the end of stream immediately after open

(typedef)

fmtflags

formatting flags type

The following constants are also defined:

Constant | Explanation
`dec` | use decimal base for integer I/O: see std::dec
`oct` | use octal base for integer I/O: see std::oct
`hex` | use hexadecimal base for integer I/O: see std::hex
`basefield` | dec|oct|hex. Useful for masking operations
`left` | left adjustment (adds fill characters to the right): see std::left
`right` | right adjustment (adds fill characters to the left): see std::right
`internal` | internal adjustment (adds fill characters to the internal designated point): see std::internal
`adjustfield` | left|right|internal. Useful for masking operations
`scientific` | generate floating point types using scientific notation, or hex notation if combined with fixed: see std::scientific
`fixed` | generate floating point types using fixed notation, or hex notation if combined with scientific: see std::fixed
`floatfield` | scientific|fixed. Useful for masking operations
`boolalpha` | insert and extract bool type in alphanumeric format: see std::boolalpha
`showbase` | generate a prefix indicating the numeric base for integer output, require the currency indicator in monetary I/O: see std::showbase
`showpoint` | generate a decimal-point character unconditionally for floating-point number output: see std::showpoint
`showpos` | generate a + character for non-negative numeric output: see std::showpos
`skipws` | skip leading whitespace before certain input operations: see std::skipws
`unitbuf` | flush the output after each output operation: see std::unitbuf
`uppercase` | replace certain lowercase letters with their uppercase equivalents in certain output operations: see std::uppercase

(typedef)

iostate

state of the stream type

The following constants are also defined:

Constant | Explanation
`goodbit` | no error
`badbit` | irrecoverable stream error
`failbit` | input/output operation failed (formatting or extraction error)
`eofbit` | associated input sequence has reached end-of-file

(typedef)

seekdir

seeking direction type

The following constants are also defined:

Constant | Explanation
`beg` | the beginning of a stream
`end` | the ending of a stream
`cur` | the current position of stream position indicator

(typedef)

event | specifies event type (enum)
event_callback | callback function type (typedef)

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