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



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


''[[Parameters]]:''
* [[semicolon]] after the INPUT keyword keeps the entry on the same row after enter is pressed  and prevents screen roll. 
* The quoted text or question MUST be a literal [[STRING|string]] created by the programmer if used. '''Quoted text cannot use variables!'''
* [[Quotation mark]]s are required except when a semicolon follows INPUT. A question mark will appear before entry cursor.
* [[semicolon]] immediately after the text statement will display a ? mark with a space after it. Use a [[comma]] for input statements.
* ''variable [[type]]'' determines the allowable numerical value entries in QB64. Text numerical entries limited to D, E, [[&H]], [[&O]] or [[&B]].


''Usage:''
* '''QB64 will not return Redo from start errors''' as user input is limited to input within the scope of the variable [[type]] used.
:: Text entries can use any entry including numerical. '''QB64 will ignore commas in single variable text entries!'''
:: Numerical entries can use numbers only up to the input variable's numerical [[TYPE]] limit.
:: [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]], and [[_INTEGER64]] entries will ignore decimal points entered and will use all numbers.
* INPUT is capable of returning more than one ''variable'' value by separating input variables with commas in the statement. 
::The program user will have to know to separate each entry value with a comma when they use it.
:: [[STRING|String]] and numerical variables can both be used in multiple entry requests separated by commas.
:: '''QB64 will allow comma separated entries to not be entered by the user without 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. Multiple entries can be skipped.
* Will accept the [[scientific notation]] letter D or E inside of [[SINGLE]] or [[DOUBLE]] numerical values.
* Numerical entries starting with [[&H]], [[&O]] and [[&B]] can be made also.
* INPUT removes all leading or trailing spaces in a string value entry. '''QB64 does NOT remove those spaces!'''
* The statement stops a program until enter is pressed. Not good in programs using a mouse (see [[INKEY$]] loops).
* Use [[_DEST]] [[_CONSOLE]] before INPUT statements to be used in a [[$CONSOLE|console]] window.


''Example 1:'' Using a variable in an input text message using PRINT. INPUT text 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.


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


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