7.3 Specializing Virtual Streams

Math.h++ comes with two kinds of classes that specialize RWvistream and RWvostream: one uses a portable ASCII formatting, and the other uses a binary formatting. These classes are summarized in Table 6:

Table 6 -- Specializations of the stream classes

Format	Input class	Output class
Abstract base class	*RWvistream*	*RWvostream*
Portable ASCII	*RWpistream*	*RWpostream*
Binary	*RWbistream*	*RWbostream*

The portable ASCII versions store their inserted items in an ASCII format that escapes special characters, like tabs and newlines, in such a manner that they are restored properly, even under a different operating system. The binary versions do not reformat inserted items, but store them in their native format. For more information, see the respective entries in the Math.h++ Class Reference.