Console.Clear Method
Definition
Important
Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
Clears the console buffer and corresponding console window of display information.
public:
static void Clear();public static void Clear ();[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")]
public static void Clear ();static member Clear : unit -> unit[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")>]
static member Clear : unit -> unitPublic Shared Sub Clear ()- Attributes
Exceptions
An I/O error occurred.
Examples
The following example uses the Clear method to clear the console before it executes a loop, prompts the user to select a foreground and background color and to enter a string to display. If the user chooses not to exit the program, the console's original foreground and background colors are restored and the Clear method is called again before re-executing the loop.
using System;
public class Example
{
public static void Main()
{
// Save colors so they can be restored when use finishes input.
ConsoleColor dftForeColor = Console.ForegroundColor;
ConsoleColor dftBackColor = Console.BackgroundColor;
bool continueFlag = true;
Console.Clear();
do {
ConsoleColor newForeColor = ConsoleColor.White;
ConsoleColor newBackColor = ConsoleColor.Black;
Char foreColorSelection = GetKeyPress("Select Text Color (B for Blue, R for Red, Y for Yellow): ",
new Char[] { 'B', 'R', 'Y' } );
switch (foreColorSelection) {
case 'B':
case 'b':
newForeColor = ConsoleColor.DarkBlue;
break;
case 'R':
case 'r':
newForeColor = ConsoleColor.DarkRed;
break;
case 'Y':
case 'y':
newForeColor = ConsoleColor.DarkYellow;
break;
}
Char backColorSelection = GetKeyPress("Select Background Color (W for White, G for Green, M for Magenta): ",
new Char[] { 'W', 'G', 'M' });
switch (backColorSelection) {
case 'W':
case 'w':
newBackColor = ConsoleColor.White;
break;
case 'G':
case 'g':
newBackColor = ConsoleColor.Green;
break;
case 'M':
case 'm':
newBackColor = ConsoleColor.Magenta;
break;
}
Console.WriteLine();
Console.Write("Enter a message to display: ");
String textToDisplay = Console.ReadLine();
Console.WriteLine();
Console.ForegroundColor = newForeColor;
Console.BackgroundColor = newBackColor;
Console.WriteLine(textToDisplay);
Console.WriteLine();
if (Char.ToUpper(GetKeyPress("Display another message (Y/N): ", new Char[] { 'Y', 'N' } )) == 'N')
continueFlag = false;
// Restore the default settings and clear the screen.
Console.ForegroundColor = dftForeColor;
Console.BackgroundColor = dftBackColor;
Console.Clear();
} while (continueFlag);
}
private static Char GetKeyPress(String msg, Char[] validChars)
{
ConsoleKeyInfo keyPressed;
bool valid = false;
Console.WriteLine();
do {
Console.Write(msg);
keyPressed = Console.ReadKey();
Console.WriteLine();
if (Array.Exists(validChars, ch => ch.Equals(Char.ToUpper(keyPressed.KeyChar))))
valid = true;
} while (! valid);
return keyPressed.KeyChar;
}
}
open System
let getKeyPress msg validChars =
Console.WriteLine()
let mutable valid = false
let mutable keyChar = ' '
while not valid do
printfn "%s" msg
let keyPressed = Console.ReadKey()
printfn ""
if validChars |> List.exists (fun ch -> ch.Equals(Char.ToUpper keyPressed.KeyChar)) then
valid <- true
keyChar <- keyPressed.KeyChar
keyChar
// Save colors so they can be restored when use finishes input.
let dftForeColor = Console.ForegroundColor
let dftBackColor = Console.BackgroundColor
let mutable continueFlag = true
Console.Clear()
while continueFlag do
let foreColorSelection =
getKeyPress "Select Text Color (B for Blue, R for Red, Y for Yellow): " [ 'B'; 'R'; 'Y' ]
let newForeColor =
match foreColorSelection with
| 'B' | 'b' ->
ConsoleColor.DarkBlue
| 'R' | 'r' ->
ConsoleColor.DarkRed
| 'Y' | 'y' ->
ConsoleColor.DarkYellow
| _ -> ConsoleColor.White
let backColorSelection =
getKeyPress "Select Background Color (W for White, G for Green, M for Magenta): " [ 'W'; 'G'; 'M' ]
let newBackColor =
match backColorSelection with
| 'W' | 'w' ->
ConsoleColor.White
| 'G' | 'g' ->
ConsoleColor.Green
| 'M' | 'm' ->
ConsoleColor.Magenta
| _ -> ConsoleColor.Black
printfn ""
printf "Enter a message to display: "
let textToDisplay = Console.ReadLine()
printfn ""
Console.ForegroundColor <- newForeColor
Console.BackgroundColor <- newBackColor
printfn "%s" textToDisplay
printfn ""
if Char.ToUpper(getKeyPress "Display another message (Y/N): " [ 'Y'; 'N' ] ) = 'N' then
continueFlag <- false
// Restore the default settings and clear the screen.
Console.ForegroundColor <- dftForeColor
Console.BackgroundColor <- dftBackColor
Console.Clear()
Module Example
Public Sub Main()
' Save colors so they can be restored when use finishes input.
Dim dftForeColor As ConsoleColor = Console.ForegroundColor
Dim dftBackColor As ConsoleColor = Console.BackgroundColor
Dim continueFlag As Boolean = True
Console.Clear()
Do
Dim newForeColor As ConsoleColor
Dim newBackColor As ConsoleColor
Dim foreColorSelection As Char = GetKeyPress("Select Text Color (B for Blue, R for Red, Y for Yellow): ",
{ "B"c, "R"c, "Y"c } )
Select Case foreColorSelection
Case "B"c, "b"c
newForeColor = ConsoleColor.DarkBlue
Case "R"c, "r"c
newForeColor = ConsoleColor.DarkRed
Case "Y"c, "y"c
newForeColor = ConsoleColor.DarkYellow
End Select
Dim backColorSelection As Char = GetKeyPress("Select Background Color (W for White, G for Green, M for Magenta): ",
{ "W"c, "G"c, "M"c })
Select Case backColorSelection
Case "W"c, "w"c
newBackColor = ConsoleColor.White
Case "G"c, "g"c
newBackColor = ConsoleColor.Green
Case "M"c, "m"c
newBackColor = ConsoleColor.Magenta
End Select
Console.WriteLine()
Console.Write("Enter a message to display: ")
Dim textToDisplay As String = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine()
Console.ForegroundColor = newForeColor
Console.BackgroundColor = newBackColor
Console.WriteLine(textToDisplay)
Console.WriteLine()
If Char.ToUpper(GetKeyPress("Display another message (Y/N): ", { "Y"c, "N"c } )) = "N" Then
continueFlag = False
End If
' Restore the default settings and clear the screen.
Console.ForegroundColor = dftForeColor
Console.BackgroundColor = dftBackColor
Console.Clear()
Loop While continueFlag
End Sub
Private Function GetKeyPress(msg As String, validChars() As Char) As Char
Dim keyPressed As ConsoleKeyInfo
Dim valid As Boolean = False
Console.WriteLine()
Do
Console.Write(msg)
keyPressed = Console.ReadKey()
Console.WriteLine()
If Array.Exists(validChars, Function(ch As Char) ch.Equals(Char.ToUpper(keypressed.KeyChar)))
valid = True
End If
Loop While Not valid
Return keyPressed.KeyChar
End Function
End Module
The example relies on a GetKeyPress method to validate the user's selection of a foreground and background color.
This example demonstrates the CursorLeft and CursorTop properties, and the SetCursorPosition and Clear methods. The example positions the cursor, which determines where the next write will occur, to draw a 5 character by 5 character rectangle using a combination of "+", "|", and "-" strings. Note that the rectangle could be drawn with fewer steps using a combination of other strings.
// This example demonstrates the
// Console.CursorLeft and
// Console.CursorTop properties, and the
// Console.SetCursorPosition and
// Console.Clear methods.
using namespace System;
int origRow;
int origCol;
void WriteAt( String^ s, int x, int y )
{
try
{
Console::SetCursorPosition( origCol + x, origRow + y );
Console::Write( s );
}
catch ( ArgumentOutOfRangeException^ e )
{
Console::Clear();
Console::WriteLine( e->Message );
}
}
int main()
{
// Clear the screen, then save the top and left coordinates.
Console::Clear();
origRow = Console::CursorTop;
origCol = Console::CursorLeft;
// Draw the left side of a 5x5 rectangle, from top to bottom.
WriteAt( "+", 0, 0 );
WriteAt( "|", 0, 1 );
WriteAt( "|", 0, 2 );
WriteAt( "|", 0, 3 );
WriteAt( "+", 0, 4 );
// Draw the bottom side, from left to right.
WriteAt( "-", 1, 4 ); // shortcut: WriteAt("---", 1, 4)
WriteAt( "-", 2, 4 ); // ...
WriteAt( "-", 3, 4 ); // ...
WriteAt( "+", 4, 4 );
// Draw the right side, from bottom to top.
WriteAt( "|", 4, 3 );
WriteAt( "|", 4, 2 );
WriteAt( "|", 4, 1 );
WriteAt( "+", 4, 0 );
// Draw the top side, from right to left.
WriteAt( "-", 3, 0 ); // shortcut: WriteAt("---", 1, 0)
WriteAt( "-", 2, 0 ); // ...
WriteAt( "-", 1, 0 ); // ...
//
WriteAt( "All done!", 0, 6 );
Console::WriteLine();
}
/*
This example produces the following results:
+---+
| |
| |
| |
+---+
All done!
*/
// This example demonstrates the
// Console.CursorLeft and
// Console.CursorTop properties, and the
// Console.SetCursorPosition and
// Console.Clear methods.
using System;
class Sample
{
protected static int origRow;
protected static int origCol;
protected static void WriteAt(string s, int x, int y)
{
try
{
Console.SetCursorPosition(origCol+x, origRow+y);
Console.Write(s);
}
catch (ArgumentOutOfRangeException e)
{
Console.Clear();
Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
}
}
public static void Main()
{
// Clear the screen, then save the top and left coordinates.
Console.Clear();
origRow = Console.CursorTop;
origCol = Console.CursorLeft;
// Draw the left side of a 5x5 rectangle, from top to bottom.
WriteAt("+", 0, 0);
WriteAt("|", 0, 1);
WriteAt("|", 0, 2);
WriteAt("|", 0, 3);
WriteAt("+", 0, 4);
// Draw the bottom side, from left to right.
WriteAt("-", 1, 4); // shortcut: WriteAt("---", 1, 4)
WriteAt("-", 2, 4); // ...
WriteAt("-", 3, 4); // ...
WriteAt("+", 4, 4);
// Draw the right side, from bottom to top.
WriteAt("|", 4, 3);
WriteAt("|", 4, 2);
WriteAt("|", 4, 1);
WriteAt("+", 4, 0);
// Draw the top side, from right to left.
WriteAt("-", 3, 0); // shortcut: WriteAt("---", 1, 0)
WriteAt("-", 2, 0); // ...
WriteAt("-", 1, 0); // ...
//
WriteAt("All done!", 0, 6);
Console.WriteLine();
}
}
/*
This example produces the following results:
+---+
| |
| |
| |
+---+
All done!
*/
// This example demonstrates the
// Console.CursorLeft and
// Console.CursorTop properties, and the
// Console.SetCursorPosition and
// Console.Clear methods.
open System
// Clear the screen, then save the top and left coordinates.
Console.Clear()
let origRow = Console.CursorTop
let origCol = Console.CursorLeft
let writeAt s x y =
try
Console.SetCursorPosition(origCol + x, origRow + y)
printfn $"%s{s}"
with :? ArgumentOutOfRangeException as e ->
Console.Clear()
printfn $"{e.Message}"
// Draw the left side of a 5x5 rectangle, from top to bottom.
writeAt "+" 0 0
writeAt "|" 0 1
writeAt "|" 0 2
writeAt "|" 0 3
writeAt "+" 0 4
// Draw the bottom side, from left to right.
writeAt "-" 1 4 // shortcut: writeAt "---", 1, 4)
writeAt "-" 2 4 // ...
writeAt "-" 3 4 // ...
writeAt "+" 4 4
// Draw the right side, from bottom to top.
writeAt "|" 4 3
writeAt "|" 4 2
writeAt "|" 4 1
writeAt "+" 4 0
// Draw the top side, from right to left.
writeAt "-" 3 0 // shortcut: writeAt "---", 1, 0)
writeAt "-" 2 0 // ...
writeAt "-" 1 0 // ...
writeAt "All done!" 0 6
printfn ""
// This example produces the following results:
//
// +---+
// | |
// | |
// | |
// +---+
//
// All done!
' This example demonstrates the
' Console.CursorLeft and
' Console.CursorTop properties, and the
' Console.SetCursorPosition and
' Console.Clear methods.
Class Sample
Protected Shared origRow As Integer
Protected Shared origCol As Integer
Protected Shared Sub WriteAt(s As String, x As Integer, y As Integer)
Try
Console.SetCursorPosition(origCol + x, origRow + y)
Console.Write(s)
Catch e As ArgumentOutOfRangeException
Console.Clear()
Console.WriteLine(e.Message)
End Try
End Sub
Public Shared Sub Main()
' Clear the screen, then save the top and left coordinates.
Console.Clear()
origRow = Console.CursorTop
origCol = Console.CursorLeft
' Draw the left side of a 5x5 rectangle, from top to bottom.
WriteAt("+", 0, 0)
WriteAt("|", 0, 1)
WriteAt("|", 0, 2)
WriteAt("|", 0, 3)
WriteAt("+", 0, 4)
' Draw the bottom side, from left to right.
WriteAt("-", 1, 4) ' shortcut: WriteAt("---", 1, 4)
WriteAt("-", 2, 4) ' ...
WriteAt("-", 3, 4) ' ...
WriteAt("+", 4, 4)
' Draw the right side, from bottom to top.
WriteAt("|", 4, 3)
WriteAt("|", 4, 2)
WriteAt("|", 4, 1)
WriteAt("+", 4, 0)
' Draw the top side, from right to left.
WriteAt("-", 3, 0) ' shortcut: WriteAt("---", 1, 0)
WriteAt("-", 2, 0) ' ...
WriteAt("-", 1, 0) ' ...
'
WriteAt("All done!", 0, 6)
Console.WriteLine()
End Sub
End Class
'
'This example produces the following results:
'
'+---+
'| |
'| |
'| |
'+---+
'
'All done!
'
Remarks
Using the Clear method is equivalent invoking the MS-DOS cls command in the command prompt window. When the Clear method is called, the cursor automatically scrolls to the top-left corner of the window and the contents of the screen buffer are set to blanks using the current foreground background colors.
Note
Attempting to call the Clear method when a console application's output is redirected to a file throws a IOException. To prevent this, always wrap a call to the Clear method in a try…catch block.
