how do I end a c++ main program so that the program waits for a key stroke before exiting?

put getchar(); before return 0;

Don't use a crutch such as the system() function.

#include <iostream>

#include <conio.h>

using namespace std;

int mai()

{

cout << "Test";

_getch();

cin.get();

return 0;

}

both _getch(); and cin.get(); will wait for 'Enter' or 'Return' to be pressed before continuing with the execution of your code. If you're looking to terminate the application then use exit(); like:

_getch();

exit( 0x004 );

will wait for 'Enter' to be pressed and will exit the application with the termination code of 4.

Words of Wisdom,

- Hex

include<conio.h>

and add _getch() before return 0;

there is a disadvantage to using getchar() over system("PAUSE");

getchar will wait for the ENTER key to be pressed before continuing, whereas system("PAUSE") waits for any key at all.

You have two options:

system("pause");

which is the dirty way to do it, or:

getchar() ;

system("pause"); is dirty because it's a system call, and is dependant on the operating system.

getchar(); is a C/C++ function that runs on any system (Mac/Linux etc.)