The [[INPUT]] statement requests a [[STRING]] or numerical keyboard entry from the user.


{{PageSyntax}}
: [[INPUT]] [;] "[Question or statement text]"{,|;} {{Parameter|variable}}[, ...]
: [[INPUT]] ; {{Parameter|variable}}[, ...]


{{Parameters}}
* A [[semicolon]] after the [[INPUT]] keyword keeps the entry on the same row after enter is pressed  and prevents the screen contents from rolling up.
* The optional prompt "Question or statement text" must be a literal predefined [[STRING|string]]. '''The prompt cannot use a variable.'''
* [[Quotation mark]]s are required except when a semicolon follows [[INPUT]]. A question mark will appear before the cursor.
* A [[semicolon]] immediately after the text statement will display a question mark with a space after it. Use a [[comma]] for input statements.


{{PageDescription}}
* '''QB64''' does not return ''Redo from start'' errors like QBasic did, as user input is limited to the scope of the variable [[Data types|type]] used.
* Text entries (with a [[STRING]] variable]] can receive any characters, including numerical. '''QB64 will ignore commas in single variable text entries.'''
* The [[Data types|type]] of the {{Parameter|variable}} used to store user input determines the valid numerical range for value entries in QB64, with non-numerical characters limited to D, E, [[&H]], [[&O]] or [[&B]].
** For example, if you use an [[INTEGER]] variable, as in {{InlineCode}}INPUT "Initial value: ", myValue%{{InlineCodeEnd}}, the valid range is -32768 to 32767.
** [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]], and [[_INTEGER64]] entries will ignore decimal points entered and will use all numbers.
* INPUT can be used to get more than one {{Parameter|variable}} value from the user. Do so by separating input variables with commas in the code.
** The program must inform the user that more than one variable is requested, in order to enter each value separated with a comma at runtime.
** [[STRING|String]] and numerical variables can both be used in multiple entry requests separated by commas.
** '''QB64'''  allows comma separated entries to be skipped by the user without generating an error.
* '''Use [[LINE INPUT]] for text input entries that may contain commas such as address or name entries.'''  
* The user must press enter for the INPUT procedure to end. <!-- redundant: Multiple entries can be skipped. -->
* [[INPUT]] accepts the [[scientific notation]] letters D or E in [[SINGLE]] or [[DOUBLE]] numerical values.
* Numerical values starting with [[&H]], [[&O]] and [[&B]] can also be entered.
<!-- not valid for QB64, not worth mentioning then denying: * INPUT removes all leading or trailing spaces in a string value entry. '''QB64 does NOT remove those spaces!''' -->
* The statement halts a program until enter is pressed, which may not be desired in programs using mouse input (see [[INKEY$]] loops).
* Use [[_DEST]] [[_CONSOLE]] before INPUT statements to receive input from a [[$CONSOLE|console]] window.


{{PageExamples}}
''Example 1:'' Using a variable in an input text message using PRINT. INPUT prompts cannot use variables.
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
{{Cl|INPUT}} "Enter your name: ", name$
{{Cl|PRINT}} name$ + " please enter your age: ";: {{Cl|INPUT}} "", age% 'empty string with comma
{{Cl|PRINT}} name$ + " how much do you weigh"; : {{Cl|INPUT}} weight%   'no text adds ? '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}
:''Explanation:'' Use an empty string with a comma to eliminate the question mark that would appear without the string.


''Example 2:'' How QB64 avoids a ''Redo from start'' multiple entry error. Use commas between values.
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
{{Cl|DO}} '' ''
  {{Cl|INPUT}} "What is your name, age, and sex(M/F)"; name$, age%, sex$
{{Cl|LOOP}} {{Cl|UNTIL}} age%        'loop until age is not 0
{{Cl|IF}} age% >= 21 {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|PRINT}} "You can drink beer!" {{Cl|ELSE}} {{Cl|PRINT}} "You cannot drink beer yet!"
{{Cl|END}} '' '' 
{{CodeEnd}}
{{OutputStart}}
What is your name, age, and sex(M/F)? Tom,24,M
You can drink beer!
{{OutputEnd}}
:''Explanation:'' Try to enter text for the age value and it will not work. E or D should be allowed as decimal point numerical entries.


''Example 3:'' Preventing screen roll after an input entry on the bottom 2 screen rows. 
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
{{Cl|SCREEN}} 12

{{Cl|COLOR}} 14: {{Cl|LOCATE}} 29, 2 '          place cursor at beginning of prompt line
{{Cl|PRINT}} "Enter a name to search for... "; 'print prompt on screen with input to follow
{{Cl|COLOR}} 15: {{Cl|INPUT}} {{text|;|red}} "", name$ '       get search name from user
{{Cl|LOCATE}} 29, 2: {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|SPC}}(78); '       erase previous prompt
n$ = {{Cl|UCASE$}}(name$) '                 convert search name to upper case
{{Cl|COLOR}} 14'                        change foreground color to yellow
{{Cl|LOCATE}} 29, 2: {{Cl|PRINT}} "Searching..."; 'print message
{{Cl|SLEEP}} 
{{CodeEnd}}
{{OutputStart}}{{text|Enter a name to search for...|#FFFF00}} █
{{OutputEnd}}
: ''Explanation:'' The {{text|red|red}} [[semicolon]] after INPUT acts like a semicolon after a [[PRINT]], which keeps the print cursor on the same row.


{{PageSeeAlso}}
* [[INPUT$]], [[INKEY$]]
* [[LINE INPUT]], [[LOCATE]]
* [[INPUT (file statement)|INPUT #]], [[LINE INPUT (file statement)|LINE INPUT #]] {{text|(file input)}}
* [[_KEYHIT]], [[_KEYDOWN]]
* [[Scancodes]]


{{PageNavigation}}
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