c - how to use scanf to get input to include space -

i new c have been confused let's have code want use char

    char a, b, c;     printf("input first character: ");     scanf(" %c", &a);     printf("input second character: ");     scanf(" %c", &b);     printf("input thrid character: ");     scanf(" %c", &c); 

how ever want able read in space well; noticed how read in non-space characters, if want read space c=' '; how scan space in;

now listening suggestion of using getchar() wrote :

#include<stdio.h>  int main(void) {   char a,b,c; printf("input first char:"); a=getchar(); printf("input second char:"); b=getchar(); printf("input third char:"); c=getchar();  return 0;   } 

how ever strange happens when compile , run program

the program output

input first char: input second char:input third char: 

now never let me input second char jumped straight third request @ end asked enter 2 inputs strange because program asked 3 in code.

now here program wrote added suggested code block

int main(void) {     int totalheight=0, floorwidth=0, amountofstories, amountwindowfortop, amountwindowformiddle, amountwindowforbottom, windowheight, middlewindowwidth, topwindowwidth, bottomwindowwidth, minimumheight, minimumwidth;     int betweendistancetop, betweendistancemiddle, betweendistancebottom, edgedistancetop, edgedistancebottom, edgedistancemiddle;     char topfloorwindowcontent, middlefloorwindowcontent, bottomfloorwindowcontent, windowborder, floorborder;     int tempmax, tempvalue, tempsidedistance, tempbetweendistance;     printf("please enter how many stories building have: ");     scanf("%d",&amountofstories);     minimumheight=amountofstories*6+1;     while((totalheight<minimumheight)||((totalheight%amountofstories)!=1))     {         printf("please enter totalheight (minimum %d): ",minimumheight);         scanf("%d",&totalheight);     }     printf("please enter how many window building have top floor: ");     scanf("%d",&amountwindowfortop);     printf("please enter how many window building have middle floors: ");     scanf("%d",&amountwindowformiddle);     printf("please enter how many window building have bottom floor: ");     scanf("%d",&amountwindowforbottom);     tempmax=amountwindowfortop;     if (tempmax<amountwindowformiddle)     {         tempmax=amountwindowformiddle;     }     if (tempmax<amountwindowforbottom)     {         tempmax=amountwindowforbottom;     }     while(floorwidth<tempmax)     {         printf("please enter width of building (minimum %d): ",tempmax*4+1);         scanf("%d",&floorwidth);     }      char a, b, c;       printf("a:");     a=getchar();getchar();     printf("b:");     b=getchar();getchar();     printf("c:");     c=getchar();     printf("a=%c, b=%c, c=%c", a, b, c); return 0; } 

now here funny part if put block of code in big program doesn't work output

please enter how many stories building have: 2 please enter totalheight (minimum 13): 2 please enter totalheight (minimum 13): 2 please enter totalheight (minimum 13): 13 please enter how many window building have top floor: 2 please enter how many window building have middle floors: 2 please enter how many window building have bottom floor: 2 please enter width of building (minimum 9): 9 a: b:* c:a= , b= , c= 

as can see b c read in \n instead of space * , c didn't read @ why ?

the problem code this: when read first char (a), press enter (\n) insert next char, on stdin there \n haven't readed. when try read next character, (b) program read previous \n stdin , not allow read next char. so, when read char getchar() , press enter on keyboard, need second getchar() remove \n. here sample code solve issue:

#include<stdio.h>  int main(void) {   char a, b, c;    printf("a:");   a=getchar();getchar();   printf("b:");   b=getchar();getchar();   printf("c:");   c=getchar();   printf("a=%c, b=%c, c=%c", a, b, c);   return 0; } 

for edited posted, need put called "the stdin cleaner" before taking value a,b,c:

while(getchar()!='\n'); 

it reomove characters till \n. please, take note when programs 1 posted has lot of input keyboard, sometime issue because there chars in stdin. general answer issue try figure out these chars (mostly there \n somewhere) , use function 1 mentioned remove can continue reading stdin.