DataInputStream readChar() method in Java with Examples

Last Updated : 05 Jun, 2020

The readChar() method of DataInputStream class in Java is used to read two input bytes and returns a char value. This method basically reads the bytes as character that are written by writechar() method of DataOutputStream class.

Syntax:

  public final char readChar()            throws IOException

Specified By: This method is specified by readChar() method of DataInput interface.

Parameters: This method does not accept any parameter.

Return value: This method returns the char value interpreted by the two bytes of input stream.

Exceptions:

EOFException – It throws EOFException if the input stream is ended before two bytes can be read.
IOException – This method throws IOException if the stream is closed or some other I/O error occurs.

Below programs illustrate readChar() method in DataInputStream class in IO package:

Program 1: Assume the existence of file “demo.txt”.

   // Java program to illustrate 
// DataInputStream readChar() method 
import java.io.*; 
public class GFG { 
    public static void main(String[] args) 
        throws IOException 
    { 
  
        // Create byte array 
        byte[] buf = { 71, 69, 69, 75, 83 }; 
  
        // Create file output stream 
        FileOutputStream outputStream 
            = new FileOutputStream("c:\\demo.txt"); 
  
        // Create data output stream 
        DataOutputStream dataOutputStr 
            = new DataOutputStream(outputStream); 
  
        for (byte b : buf) { 
            // Write character to 
            // the dataOutputStream 
            dataOutputStr.writeChar(b); 
        } 
  
        dataOutputStr.flush(); 
  
        // Create file input stream 
        FileInputStream inputStream 
            = new FileInputStream("c:\\demo.txt"); 
  
        // Create data input stream 
        DataInputStream dataInputStr 
            = new DataInputStream(inputStream); 
  
        while (dataInputStr.available() > 0) { 
            // Print character 
            System.out.print( 
                dataInputStr.readChar()); 
        } 
    } 
} 
 
  

Output:

Program 2: Assume the existence of file “demo.txt”.

   // Java program to illustrate 
// DataInputStream readChar() method 
import java.io.*; 
public class GFG { 
    public static void main(String[] args) 
        throws IOException 
    { 
  
        // Create byte array 
        byte[] buf = { 71, 69, 69, 75, 83, 
                       70, 79, 82, 71, 69, 
                       69, 75, 83 }; 
        // Create file output stream 
        FileOutputStream outputStream 
            = new FileOutputStream("c:\\demo.txt"); 
  
        // Create data output stream 
        DataOutputStream dataOutputStr 
            = new DataOutputStream(outputStream); 
  
        for (byte b : buf) { 
            // Write character to 
            // the dataOutputStream 
            dataOutputStr.writeChar(b); 
        } 
  
        dataOutputStr.flush(); 
  
        // Create file input stream 
        FileInputStream inputStream 
            = new FileInputStream("c:\\demo.txt"); 
  
        // Create data input stream 
        DataInputStream dataInputStr 
            = new DataInputStream(inputStream); 
  
        while (dataInputStr.available() > 0) { 
            // Print character 
            System.out.print( 
                dataInputStr.readChar()); 
        } 
    } 
} 
 
  