the question is about file streams.

[zeeshan708]

I am quoting this from Deitel's 5th edition on C++

To perform file processing in C++, header files <iostream> and <fstream> must be included. Header <fstream> includes the definitions for the stream class templates basic_ifstream (for file input), basic_ofstream (for file output) and basic_fstream (for file input and output). Each class template has a predefined template specialization that enables char I/O. In addition, the fstream library provides a set of typedefs that provide aliases for these template specializations. For example, the typedef ifstream represents a specialization of basic_ifstream that enables char input from a file. Similarly, typedef ofstream represents a specialization of basic_ofstream that enables char output to files. Also, typedef fstream represents a specialization of basic_fstream that enables char input from, and output to, files.

Now the question is...
Why is there a separate specialization for char data type ??? Is it because the files normally are made up of characters and have nothing to do with ints and floats etc etc. Are there specializations for other data types as well or is it just for character data type only?

Detailed answers and links shall be appreciated alot.

Regards.

[Banfa]

The only specialisation in the standard is for char although you may of course specialise these classes for any type of your choice. The reason char specialisations are included is that typically files systems and stdin, stdout, stderr are all accessed by files streams. The specialisations therefore provide the C++ equivalent of the C fopen, fprintf, fclose, printf functions etc.

[weaknessforcats]

You can use wchar_t instead of char.

wchar_t allows your system to process Unicode.

Like, cin is an instance of basic_stream<char> whereas wcin is an instance of basic_istream<wchar_t>.

char and wchar_t are the only types you can use.