getting input from the user

The function read can be used to prompt the user and obtain a line of input as a string. In response to the prompt, the user enters sample and press return.

i1 : filename = read "file name : "

file name : sample



o1 = sample



o1 : String

Let's use peek to verify that this string contains no newline characters.

i2 : peek filename



o2 = "sample"



o2 : String

If necessary, we may use value to evaluate the string provided by the user. In this example, we enter (x+y)^2 in response to the prompt.

i3 : R = ZZ[x,y];

i4 : s = read "polynomial : "

polynomial : (x+y)^2



o4 = (x+y)^2



o4 : String

i5 : value s



      2           2

o5 = x  + 2x*y + y 



o5 : R