From 4b636345695e58a643ea6ed509424e6803f12ef2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: William Dale <45247508+wdale2011@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2025 07:10:28 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Add scanf() documentation for C (#5999)

* Add scanf() documentation for C

* Update scanf.md

* Update scanf.md

minor fixes and formatting

---------
---
 .../basic-output/terms/scanf/scanf.md         | 73 +++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 73 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 content/c/concepts/basic-output/terms/scanf/scanf.md

diff --git a/content/c/concepts/basic-output/terms/scanf/scanf.md b/content/c/concepts/basic-output/terms/scanf/scanf.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0d362a51f38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/content/c/concepts/basic-output/terms/scanf/scanf.md
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+---
+Title: 'scanf()'
+Description: 'Reads a user input and assigns it to a variable.'
+Subjects:
+  - 'Code Foundations'
+  - 'Computer Science'
+Tags:
+  - 'Functions'
+  - 'Input'
+CatalogContent:
+  - 'learn-c'
+  - 'paths/computer-science'
+---
+
+The **`scanf()`** function (short for 'scan formatted') reads user input, interprets it according to the specified format, and assigns the converted value to a variable.
+
+## Syntax
+
+```pseudo
+int scanf(const char *format, &variable1, &variable2, ..., &variableN);
+```
+
+- `format`: A string containing format specifiers (e.g., `%d`, `%f`, `%s`) that define the type of input expected.
+- `&variable1, &variable2, ..., &variableN`: Pointers to variables where the values from the input will be stored. Each pointer corresponds to a format specifier in the `format` string.
+
+For a short list of format specifiers you can use in the input string, see the 'Format Specifiers' table in the [`printf`](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/c/basic-output/printf) documentation.
+
+> **Note:** `scanf()` does not have any intrinsic validation of the user input. This can cause errors if the user input does not match the format specifiers in the string.
+
+## Example 1
+
+In the following example, the format specifier `%d` tells the function to expect an integer, then assigns it to the variable `yourNumber`:
+
+```c
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main(void) {
+  int yourNumber;
+
+  printf("Type your favorite number:");
+  scanf("%d", &yourNumber);
+  printf("Your favorite number is: %d", yourNumber);
+}
+```
+
+If the user typed in `3`, the output would be:
+
+```shell
+Your favorite number is: 3
+```
+
+## Example 2
+
+Here is another example using two variables:
+
+```c
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main(void) {
+  int yourNumber;
+  char yourLetter;
+
+  printf("Type your favorite number and letter:");
+  scanf("%d%c", &yourNumber, &yourLetter);
+  printf("Your favorite number is: %d and your favorite letter is: %c", yourNumber, yourLetter);
+}
+```
+
+If the user typed in `4Bh`, the output would be:
+
+```shell
+Type your favorite number and letter:Your favorite number is: 48 and your favorite letter is: h
+```