New-line character is a technique used to insert a new line into the output displayed to the user. It is one of the most-used techniques to get the output to the next line. Most of the time, we don’t simply want to print (output) everything on the same line, though we need separation. It helps us generate much cleaner output, reduce clutter, and increase readability.

There are two methods to get the output into the new line.

• End-Line
• New-Line

End-Line

The endl is one of the most used operators, and it’s widely and primarily used in C++ to end the line. As it’s pretty self-explanatory from its name, the endl or the “end-line.”

End-line is a C++ manipulator that helps us end the line of the output by flushing the buffer wherever we want by inserting it, thus making more logic and increasing the readability of the output. Specifically, it terminates the line and forces the output to be printed on the next line, hence flushing the buffer flow. End-line is the part of the standard function library and a predefined object in the iostream class. Therefore that’s why we include this piece of code in our program.

Syntax

cout<<endl; //assuming we've included the namespace standard

Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main(){
    cout<<"GEEK"<<endl<<"ON"<<endl<<"PEAK"; 
    //printing GEEK ON PEAK on different lines using End-Line
    return 0;
}

Output

GEEK
ON
PEAK

The Endl is already the most used buffer ending modifier in C++, but there’s still something more besides endl. However, it’s not a buffer ender, but it’s a legacy of the C language and is used in many languages, including C++, until today. Let’s learn more about the New Line Character.

New-Line

“/n” (Backslash N) is usually preferred to insert the new line. Still, many people, especially in C++, prefer it as a secondary method to insert a new line or use it to insert a new line without flushing the current buffer flow. “/n” (Backslash N) generally stands for the New-Line character.

New-Line is an Escape Sequence Character that helps us insert the output in the next line by inserting the new line without ending the current buffer flow. Unline End-Line, New-Line does not terminate the current line but inserts the new line before the new output gets printed without interfering with the current buffer flow. New-Line shall be written in the double quotes “/n” like this, unlike endl.

Syntax

cout<<"/n"; //assuming we've included the namespace standard for the cout as we don't need it for the new-line.

Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main(){
    cout<<"GEEK\nON\nPEAK"; 
  //printing GEEK ON PEAK on different lines using New-Line
    return 0;
}

Output

GEEK
ON
PEAK

End-Line V/S New-Line

End-Line	New-Line
End-Line is a manipulator.	New-Line is a character from the escape sequence
It needs the standard function library and iostream both to function.	It needs only iostream for the cout to function
End-Line (endl) is used without double quotations.	New-Line (/n) is used with double quotations.
End-Line flushes the buffer to create the new line	New-Line does not flush the buffer to create the new line
It doesn’t occupy the memory	It occupies one byte of memory as it’s a character

Conclusion

We’ve learned how to reduce the clutter in the output and make it more readable using the best practice in C++, which will help you think, rebuild and present your mind and output more logically and intuitively. You’ve also learned the two different ways to do that, how they work, their approach, and which one you should choose under the best-suited circumstance. It looks like you’re already very serious about becoming a splendid geek. Our best regards are with you, but there’s something more which you can do to boost your learning level.

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