The **`getchar` function** is part of the `<stdio.h>` header file in C. It is used when single character input is required from the user. The function reads the input as an `unsigned char`; then it casts and returns as an `int` or an `EOF`. 

> `EOF` is returned if the end of file is reached or an error is encountered.

> `getchar` casts to `int` to allow the representation of `EOF`, which cannot be represented using a `char`. 

The illustration below shows how `getchar` works:


# Declaration
The `getchar` function is declared as follows:

```C
int getchar(void)
```

The `getchar` function takes no parameter.

# Example

The code snippet belwo shows how `getchar` can be used:

> Input your character using the `STDIN` option, then press `Run`.


#include<stdio.h> // Including header file

int main(){

  int myChar; // creating a variable to store the input 
  myChar = getchar(); // use getchar to fetch input
  printf("You entered:  %c", myChar); // print input on screen
  return 0;
}

The output above shows a single character printed on-screen. In the case that multiple characters are input, we will only pick the first character.

> There is a slight difference between`getchar` and `getc`.
`getchar` only takes a character from standard input, whereas `getc` can fetch a character from any input stream, e.g., files.  

What is getchar in C?

The getchar function reads a single character from standard input, returning it as an int or EOF for errors.