In C, the **`fread()` function** is used to read data from a file and store it in a buffer.

## Syntax
The general syntax of `fread()` is as follows:

size_t fread(void * buffer, size_t size, size_t count, FILE * stream)

### Parameters
The `fread()` takes in a number of parameters. Let's look at each of them in detail:

* **Buffer:** Pointer to the buffer where data will be stored. A buffer is a region of memory used to temporarily store data
* **Size:** The size of each element to be read in bytes
* **Count:** Number of elements to be read
* **Stream:** Pointer to the FILE object from where data is to be read

### Return value
Upon successful execution, the function returns an integer value equivalent to **count**. In case of an error or `EOF`, a value less than **count** is returned.

## Example 
Let's take a look at some examples to see how the `fread()` function works!

### 1. Reading a string from a file

#include<stdio.h>

int main() {
  char buffer[20]; // Buffer to store data
  FILE * stream;
  stream = fopen("file.txt", "r");
  int count = fread(&buffer, sizeof(char), 20, stream);
  fclose(stream);
  // Printing data to check validity
  printf("Data read from file: %s \n", buffer);
  printf("Elements read: %d", count);
  return 0;
}

### 2. Reading an integer value from file

#include<stdio.h>

int main() {
  int buffer;
  int store = 1234;
  // Creating a file and storing an int value
  FILE * stream;
  stream = fopen("file.txt", "w");
  fwrite(&store, sizeof(int), 1, stream);
  fclose(stream);

  // Reading value from file
  stream = fopen("file.txt", "r");
  fread(&buffer, sizeof(int), 1, stream);
  printf("Reading high score: %d\n",buffer);
  fclose(stream);

  return(0);
}

### 3. Reading multiple values from a file

If you wish to read data from a file that contains multiple rows of data, we can proceed as follows:

#include<stdio.h>

int main() {
  char buffer[50]; // Buffer to store data
  FILE * stream;
  stream = fopen("file.txt", "r");
  int count = fread(&buffer, sizeof(char), 30, stream);
  fclose(stream);
  // Printing data to check validity
  printf("Data read from file: %s \n", buffer);
  printf("Elements read: %d", count);
  return 0;
}

C: Reading data from a file using fread()

Syntax

Parameters

Return value

Example

1. Reading a string from a file

2. Reading an integer value from file

3. Reading multiple values from a file