Why doesn't getchar() wait for me to press enter after scanf()?

Question

I am learning C and I'm using "getchar()" to stop the command windows so I can see the exercises am doing but it just doesn't work. heres a sample:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int value;
    printf("1. option 1.\n2. option 2.\n3. option 3.\n4. Exit\n\nMake an option: ");
    scanf("%d", &value);
    switch (value)
    {
        case 1:
            printf("you selected the option 1.");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("you selected the option 2.");
            break;
        case 3:
            printf("you selected the option 3.");
            break;
        case 4:
            printf("goodbye");
            break;
        default:
            printf("thats not an option");
            break;
    }
    getchar();
    return 0;
}

this is the output:

1. option 1.
2. option 2.
3. option 3.
4. Exit.

Make an option: 1

you selected the option 1.

Process returned 0 (0x0) execution time : 3.453 s

Press any key to continue.

Why doesn't it wait for the input of "getchar()"?

Answer 1

Your scanf only ate the number but not the trailing newline. Putting a newline or white space after the %d will then give you the opposite problem, reading too far.

This is why people don't like scanf.

I would suggest reading an actual line (use fgets(3)) and then using sscanf() to scan the string.