What is the difference between iostream and iostream.h in cpp?


In C++, there are two seemingly similar headers for input/output operations: iostream and iostream.h. However, they have key differences you should be aware of:

1. Standard vs. Non-Standard:

  • **iostream** is the standard header for input/output operations in C++. It is part of the C++ Standard Library and is guaranteed to be available and consistent across different compilers.

  • **iostream.h** is a non-standard header. It was used in pre-standard C++ and some early compilers. It is not part of the C++ Standard Library and its availability and behavior might vary depending on the compiler.

2. Namespace:

  • **iostream** defines everything within the **std** namespace. This helps avoid naming conflicts with other libraries or user-defined functions.

  • **iostream.h** does not use namespaces. This means all its elements are directly available in the global namespace, which can lead to potential naming conflicts and is generally considered less modern practice.

3. Recommendations:

  • Always use iostream in modern C++ code. It's the standard, safer, and more widely supported option.

  • Avoid using iostream.h in new projects. It might still be present in some older codebases, but it's best to gradually migrate them to use iostream for better compatibility and maintainability.

Additional points:

  • iostream.h might lack some features present in iostream due to its pre-standard origin.

  • Some older compilers might still support iostream.h for compatibility reasons, but it's not recommended to rely on this behavior.

Remember, for writing portable and modern C++ code, stick to the standard header iostream.


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