NAME¶

std::basic_ostream::seekp - std::basic_ostream::seekp

Synopsis¶

basic_ostream& seekp( pos_type pos ); (1)
basic_ostream& seekp( off_type off, std::ios_base::seekdir dir ); (2)

Sets the output position indicator of the current associated streambuf object.

Behaves as UnformattedOutputFunction (except without actually (since C++11)
performing output). After constructing and checking the sentry object,

1) if fail() != true, sets the output position indicator to absolute (relative to
the beginning of the file) value pos by calling rdbuf()->pubseekpos(pos,
std::ios_base::out). In case of failure, calls setstate(std::ios_base::failbit).
2) if fail() != true, sets the output position indicator to offset off relative to
dir by calling rdbuf()->pubseekoff(off, dir, std::ios_base::out). In case of
failure, calls setstate(std::ios_base::failbit).

Parameters¶

pos - absolute position to set the output position indicator to
off - relative position (positive or negative) to set the output position indicator
to
defines base position to apply the relative offset to. It can be one of the
following constants:

dir - Constant Explanation
beg the beginning of a stream
end the ending of a stream
cur the current position of stream position indicator

Return value¶

*this

Exceptions¶

1,2) May throw std::ios_base::failure in case of failure, if exceptions() & failbit
!= 0.

Example¶

// Run this code

#include <iostream>
#include <sstream>

int main()
{
std::ostringstream os("hello, world");
os.seekp(7);
os << 'W';
os.seekp(0, std::ios_base::end);
os << '!';
os.seekp(0);
os << 'H';
std::cout << os.str() << '\n';
}

Output:¶

Hello, World!

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to
previously published C++ standards.

DR Applied to Behavior as published Correct behavior
LWG 129 C++98 there was no way to indicate a failure sets failbit on failure
LWG 136 C++98 seekp could set the input stream only sets the output
stream
LWG 537 C++98 1. the type of pos was pos_type& 1. corrected to pos_type
2. the type of off was off_type& 2. corrected to off_type
LWG 2341 C++98 the resolution of LWG issue 129 for restored
overload (2) was removed

See also¶

tellp returns the output position indicator
(public member function)
tellg returns the input position indicator
(public member function of std::basic_istream<CharT,Traits>)
seekg sets the input position indicator
(public member function of std::basic_istream<CharT,Traits>)