BinaryReader.ReadString Method

Definition

Reads a string from the current stream. The string is prefixed with the length, encoded as an integer seven bits at a time.

C#
public virtual string ReadString();

Returns

The string being read.

Exceptions

The end of the stream is reached.

The stream is closed.

An I/O error occurred.

Examples

The following code example demonstrates how to store and retrieve application settings in a file.

C#
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;

class ConsoleApplication
{
    const string fileName = "AppSettings.dat";

    static void Main()
    {
        WriteDefaultValues();
        DisplayValues();
    }

    public static void WriteDefaultValues()
    {
        using (var stream = File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Create))
        {
            using (var writer = new BinaryWriter(stream, Encoding.UTF8, false))
            {
                writer.Write(1.250F);
                writer.Write(@"c:\Temp");
                writer.Write(10);
                writer.Write(true);
            }
        }
    }

    public static void DisplayValues()
    {
        float aspectRatio;
        string tempDirectory;
        int autoSaveTime;
        bool showStatusBar;

        if (File.Exists(fileName))
        {
            using (var stream = File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Open))
            {
                using (var reader = new BinaryReader(stream, Encoding.UTF8, false))
                {
                    aspectRatio = reader.ReadSingle();
                    tempDirectory = reader.ReadString();
                    autoSaveTime = reader.ReadInt32();
                    showStatusBar = reader.ReadBoolean();
                }
            }

            Console.WriteLine("Aspect ratio set to: " + aspectRatio);
            Console.WriteLine("Temp directory is: " + tempDirectory);
            Console.WriteLine("Auto save time set to: " + autoSaveTime);
            Console.WriteLine("Show status bar: " + showStatusBar);
        }
    }
}

Remarks

BinaryReader does not restore the file position after an unsuccessful read.

For a list of common I/O tasks, see Common I/O Tasks.

Applies to

Product Versions
.NET Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1
UWP 10.0

See also