What is the difference between %d and %i

January 18, 2023

difference between %d and %i

What are %d and %i

Format specifiers are used in C programming for letting the compiler understand , the nature of the data that the programmer is working upon. %d and %i are two such format specifiers which are used for working with integer data type. Although both of them can be used for printing an integer value, but there is a slight difference between them, when they are used for accepting a value through scanf.

Difference in the use of %d and %i

Both %d and %i are used when we are working with integer data type, they both behave similarly while printing a integer value, but when they are used with scanf, for accepting a integer value, there is a slight difference in their property

  • While accepting a integer value %d simple takes the base of the value as 10(decimal).
  • But, if we use %i while accepting the integer value, it takes the base(decimal, octal, hexadecimal) of the value, depending upon the value entered.
    • For Example,
    • If we enter 21, it will return 21 as decimal
    • If we enter 021, it will take it as octal and will return 17
    • And, if we enter 0x21, it will take it as hexa-decimal and will return 33
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Use of %d

Run 
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
    int a, b, c;

     printf("Enter a value in decimal format:");
     scanf("%d", &b);

     printf("Enter Enter a value in octal format: ");
     scanf("%d", &b);

     printf("Enter Enter a value in hexadecimal format: ");
     scanf("%d", &c);

     printf("Enter a = %d, b = %d, c = %d", a, b, c);

      return 0;
}

Output

Enter a value in decimal format:1792
Enter Enter a value in octal format: 01792
Enter Enter a value in hexadecimal format: 0x1792
Enter a = 32767, b = 1792, c = 0

Use of %i

Run 
#include <stdio.h> 

int main()
{
    int a, b, c;

     printf("Enter a value in decimal format:");
     scanf("%i", &b);

     printf("Enter a value in octal format: ");
     scanf("%i", &b);

     printf("Enter a value in hexadecimal format: ");
     scanf("%i", &c);

     printf("a = %i, b = %i, c = %i", a, b, c);

      return 0;
}

Output

Enter a value in decimal format:21
Enter a value in octal format: 021
Enter a value in hexadecimal format: 0x21
a = 32764, b = 17, c = 33

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