iostream.h
is a header file in C++ that was used in older versions of the language to provide functionality for input and output streams. It includes definitions for standard input and output operations, such as cin
, cout
, getline
, and more. However, it has largely been replaced by the modern <iostream>
header, which does not use the .h
suffix and is part of the C++ Standard Library. The newer version adheres to better practices in terms of namespace management and type safety.
<iostream.h> is an old style of programming and does not allow using namespaces. If you use <iostream> you can use namespaces, and limit number of predefined function (not used) included with your program.
The iostream library in C++ is essential for input and output operations, providing a standardized way to handle streams of data. It facilitates reading from and writing to various data sources, such as the console and files, through classes like istream and ostream. By using iostream, developers can leverage features like formatted input and output, enabling more efficient and manageable data handling in applications. Overall, it is a foundational component for effective user interaction and data processing in C++.
You use the <iostream> header when you wish to make use of the standard input/output streams, which primarily includes std::cin, std:cout and std::cerr, amongst other standard IO stream facilities. Note that C++ standard library headers do NOT have file extensions. That is, there is no <iostream.h> header in the C++ standard library. The only headers that do have extensions are those specifically provided by the C standard library. However, you must NOT include these headers in your own code as they will pollute the global namespace. If you require these headers, use the corresponding C++ header instead. For example, if you require <math.h>, include <cmath>. The C++ headers will import all the names from corresponding C header and place them in the C++ standard namespace.