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# std::basic_streambuf::overflow

From cppreference.com
< cpp‎ | io‎ | basic streambuf

virtual int_type overflow( int_type ch = traits::eof() ); |  |

Ensures that there is space at the put area for at least one character by saving some initial subsequence of characters starting at pbase() to the output sequence and updating the pointers to the output area (if needed). If `ch` is not Traits::eof() (i.e. Traits::eq_int_type(ch, Traits::eof()) != true), it is either put to the output area or directly saved to the output sequence.

The function may update `pptr`, `epptr` and `pback` pointers to define the location to write more data. On failure, the function ensures that either pptr() == nullptr or pptr() == epptr.

The base class version of the function does nothing. The derived classes may override this function to allow updates to the put area in the case of exhaustion.

### [edit] Parameters

ch | - | the character to store in the put area

### [edit] Return value

Returns unspecified value not equal to Traits::eof() on success, Traits::eof() on failure.

The base class version of the function returns Traits::eof().

### [edit] Note

The sputc() and sputn() call this function in case of an overflow (pptr() == nullptr or pptr() >= epptr()).

### [edit] Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <array>

    // Buffer for std::ostream implemented by std::array
    template<std::size_t SIZE, class CharT = char>
    class ArrayedStreamBuffer : public std::basic_streambuf<CharT> {
    public:

        using Base = std::basic_streambuf<CharT>;
        using char_type = typename Base::char_type;
        using int_type = typename Base::int_type;

        ArrayedStreamBuffer() : buffer_{} // value-initialize buffer_ to all zeroes
        {
            Base::setp(buffer_.begin(), buffer_.end()); // set std::basic_streambuf
                // put area pointers to work with 'buffer_'
        }

        int_type overflow(int_type ch)
        {
            std::cout << "overflow\n";
            return Base::overflow(ch);
        }

        void print_buffer()
        {
            for (const auto& i: buffer_) {
                if (i == 0) {
                    std::cout << "NULL";
                } else {
                    std::cout << i;
                }
                std::cout << " ";
            }
            std::cout << "\n";
        }

    private:
        std::array<char_type, SIZE> buffer_;
    };

    int main()
    {
        ArrayedStreamBuffer<10> streambuf;
        std::ostream stream(&streambuf);

        stream << "hello";
        streambuf.print_buffer();
        if (stream.good()) {
            std::cout << "stream is good\n";
        }

        stream << "world";
        streambuf.print_buffer();
        if (stream.good()) {
            std::cout << "stream is good\n";
        }

        stream << "!";
        streambuf.print_buffer();
        if (!stream.good()) {
            std::cout << "stream is not good\n";
        }
    }

Output:

    h e l l o NULL NULL NULL NULL NULL
    stream is good
    h e l l o w o r l d
    stream is good
    overflow
    h e l l o w o r l d
    stream is not good

### [edit] See also

uflow [virtual] | reads characters from the associated input sequence to the get area and advances the next pointer (virtual protected member function) [edit]
underflow [virtual] | reads characters from the associated input sequence to the get area (virtual protected member function) [edit]
overflow [virtual] | writes characters to the associated file from the put area (virtual protected member function of `std::basic_filebuf`) [edit]
overflow [virtual] | appends a character to the output sequence (virtual protected member function of `std::basic_stringbuf`) [edit]
overflow [virtual] | appends a character to the output sequence, may reallocate or initially allocate the buffer if dynamic and not frozen (virtual protected member function of `std::strstreambuf`) [edit]

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