Difference between print() and println()

Question

What is the difference between print( ) and println( )?
I see none when I run a code.

Really? Try a few of each in sequence and see if you see any difference. — Wirewrap, Apr 19 '15 at 11:35
The answer to this question could have easily be found on the Arduino site. — Mathsman 100, Apr 19 '15 at 11:51
The ln from println comes from line, meaning it will print a new line character at the end — rslite, Apr 19 '15 at 14:43

score 8 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 22 '15 at 14:06

An easy way to see the difference is using Serial.print();/Serial.println();.

print();

will print out whatever you input wherever the cursor currently is. For example:

Serial.print("Test");
Serial.print("Words");

This will print:

TestWords_

The underscore marks where the cursor is (and therefore where the next print command will start). In contrast, the code:

Serial.println("Test");
Serial.println("Words");

will print the following:

Test
Words
_

You can also print multiple statements and then follow with println like so (note the space at the end/beginning of the strings):

Serial.print("These ");
Serial.print("Test");
Serial.println(" Words.");

to get the following output:

These Test Words.
_

You can also use println(); to add a newline character in general. If you would print a variable that doesn't return a newline character, println(); can be used for formatting. Example:

int x = 50;
Serial.print(x);
Serial.println();

This will print:

50
_

Finally, you can add in special characters like a tab \t inside your quotes for formatting. Example:

Serial.println("Test\tTest")

This will return:

Test    Test
_

Your answer tells us that println() function prints what's in the parenthesis then prints a newline character rather that printing a newline character first and then printing what's inside the parenthesis. Your idea of underscore for showing the cursor position is quite very nice. +1 for all that. — Devesh Saini, Jun 27 '16 at 11:19

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 19 '15 at 11:36

6

print() prints whatever you send in.
println() does the same thing, only after using println, anything new that is printed gets printed in next line, I.e. a new line is formed.

answered Apr 19 '15 at 11:36

Mathsman 100

339
1
11

Could you post your code please, as my answer is kind of incomplete now. – Mathsman 100 Apr 19 '15 at 11:37

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 22 '15 at 09:10

The print("aString") method prints just the string "aString", but does not move the cursor to a new line. Hence, subsequent printing instructions will print on the same line.

The println("aString") method prints the string "aString" and moves the cursor to a new line.

The println() method can also be used without parameters, to position the cursor on the next line.

Regards

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 08 '17 at 10:46

print() print which you want but in one line.

For example,

Serial.print("Hello");

Then output in Serial Monitor look like,

HelloHelloHelloHelloHello

println() print same things but in new line.

For example,

Serial.println("Hello");

Then output in Serial Monitor look like,

Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello

Difference between print() and println()

4 Answers4