c++ stdout flushes stream unexpectedly - c++

Question

#include <iostream>
#include <thread>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
for (int i = 0; i < 10000; i++) {
cout << "Hello\n";
}
this_thread::sleep_for(chrono::milliseconds(2000));
cout << "2 seconds have passed" << endl;
return 0;
}
In my code, I didn't call any std::flush or std::endl, but the hello's are printed before the 2 seconds delay. I am expecting to print all the hello's after the 2 seconds delay, but it didn't. My code runs like this:
Hello
Hello
.
.
.
Hello
Hello
(after 2 seconds)
2 seconds have passed
[terminated]
Why is this happening?

Answer 1

First of all, you're writing more output than a typical file buffer will hold, so you'd almost always expect at least some of the output to show up before the sleep.
Second, you're doing a lot of separate output calls, so if cout is unit-buffered, each one is going to be flushed immediately.
Third, you're writing a new-line at the end of each item, so if cout is line-buffered, (yup) each one is going to be flushed immediately.
So, if you want a better chance of seeing at least some of the output showing up after the sleep ends, turn off unit buffering and get rid of the new-lines:
#include <iostream>
#include <thread>
#include <chrono>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout << nounitbuf;
for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
cout << "Hello";
}
// display something different to make it easier for user to see
// whether all output showed up before sleep or not.
cout << "...";
this_thread::sleep_for(chrono::milliseconds(2000));
cout << "2 seconds have passed" << endl;
return 0;
}
But even with this, there's no guarantee the behavior will change. Rather the contrary, most implementations go to some pain to assure that output written to the console shows up as promptly as possible, so even when you take steps toward delaying it, it'll still probably show up before the sleep. But this might improve your chances a little bit anyway.