DataInputStream (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.io.DataInputStream class
Date: 2026-07-22

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.io

## Class DataInputStream

- java.lang.Object
- - java.io.InputStream
  - - java.io.FilterInputStream
    - - java.io.DataInputStream

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Closeable, DataInput, AutoCloseable

      public class DataInputStream
      extends FilterInputStream
      implements DataInput

  A data input stream lets an application read primitive Java data types from an underlying input stream in a machine-independent way. An application uses a data output stream to write data that can later be read by a data input stream.

  DataInputStream is not necessarily safe for multithreaded access. Thread safety is optional and is the responsibility of users of methods in this class.

  Since:
    JDK1.0
  See Also:
    `DataOutputStream`

- - ### Field Summary

    - ### Fields inherited from class java.io.FilterInputStream

      `in`

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `DataInputStream(InputStream in)` Creates a DataInputStream that uses the specified underlying InputStream.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Static Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods Deprecated Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `int` | `read(byte[] b)` Reads some number of bytes from the contained input stream and stores them into the buffer array `b`.
    `int` | `read(byte[] b, int off, int len)` Reads up to `len` bytes of data from the contained input stream into an array of bytes.
    `boolean` | `readBoolean()` See the general contract of the `readBoolean` method of `DataInput`.
    `byte` | `readByte()` See the general contract of the `readByte` method of `DataInput`.
    `char` | `readChar()` See the general contract of the `readChar` method of `DataInput`.
    `double` | `readDouble()` See the general contract of the `readDouble` method of `DataInput`.
    `float` | `readFloat()` See the general contract of the `readFloat` method of `DataInput`.
    `void` | `readFully(byte[] b)` See the general contract of the `readFully` method of `DataInput`.
    `void` | `readFully(byte[] b, int off, int len)` See the general contract of the `readFully` method of `DataInput`.
    `int` | `readInt()` See the general contract of the `readInt` method of `DataInput`.
    > `String` | `readLine()` Deprecated. This method does not properly convert bytes to characters. As of JDK 1.1, the preferred way to read lines of text is via the `BufferedReader.readLine()` method. Programs that use the `DataInputStream` class to read lines can be converted to use the `BufferedReader` class by replacing code of the form:
    >          DataInputStream d = new DataInputStream(in);
    > with:
    >          BufferedReader d
    >               = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(in));
    `long` | `readLong()` See the general contract of the `readLong` method of `DataInput`.
    `short` | `readShort()` See the general contract of the `readShort` method of `DataInput`.
    `int` | `readUnsignedByte()` See the general contract of the `readUnsignedByte` method of `DataInput`.
    `int` | `readUnsignedShort()` See the general contract of the `readUnsignedShort` method of `DataInput`.
    `String` | `readUTF()` See the general contract of the `readUTF` method of `DataInput`.
    `static String` | `readUTF(DataInput in)` Reads from the stream `in` a representation of a Unicode character string encoded in modified UTF-8 format; this string of characters is then returned as a `String`.
    `int` | `skipBytes(int n)` See the general contract of the `skipBytes` method of `DataInput`.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.io.FilterInputStream

      `available, close, mark, markSupported, read, reset, skip`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### DataInputStream

          public DataInputStream(InputStream in)

      Creates a DataInputStream that uses the specified underlying InputStream.
      Parameters:
        `in` - the specified input stream

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### read

          public final int read(byte[] b)
                         throws IOException

      Reads some number of bytes from the contained input stream and stores them into the buffer array `b`. The number of bytes actually read is returned as an integer. This method blocks until input data is available, end of file is detected, or an exception is thrown.

      If `b` is null, a `NullPointerException` is thrown. If the length of `b` is zero, then no bytes are read and `0` is returned; otherwise, there is an attempt to read at least one byte. If no byte is available because the stream is at end of file, the value `-1` is returned; otherwise, at least one byte is read and stored into `b`.

      The first byte read is stored into element `b[0]`, the next one into `b[1]`, and so on. The number of bytes read is, at most, equal to the length of `b`. Let `k` be the number of bytes actually read; these bytes will be stored in elements `b[0]` through `b[k-1]`, leaving elements `b[k]` through `b[b.length-1]` unaffected.

      The `read(b)` method has the same effect as:

      >      read(b, 0, b.length)

      Overrides:
        `read` in class `FilterInputStream`
      Parameters:
        `b` - the buffer into which the data is read.
      Returns:
        the total number of bytes read into the buffer, or `-1` if there is no more data because the end of the stream has been reached.
      Throws:
        `IOException` - if the first byte cannot be read for any reason other than end of file, the stream has been closed and the underlying input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`, `InputStream.read(byte[], int, int)`

    - #### read

          public final int read(byte[] b,
                                int off,
                                int len)
                         throws IOException

      Reads up to `len` bytes of data from the contained input stream into an array of bytes. An attempt is made to read as many as `len` bytes, but a smaller number may be read, possibly zero. The number of bytes actually read is returned as an integer.

      This method blocks until input data is available, end of file is detected, or an exception is thrown.

      If `len` is zero, then no bytes are read and `0` is returned; otherwise, there is an attempt to read at least one byte. If no byte is available because the stream is at end of file, the value `-1` is returned; otherwise, at least one byte is read and stored into `b`.

      The first byte read is stored into element `b[off]`, the next one into `b[off+1]`, and so on. The number of bytes read is, at most, equal to `len`. Let k be the number of bytes actually read; these bytes will be stored in elements `b[off]` through `b[off+`k`-1]`, leaving elements `b[off+`k`]` through `b[off+len-1]` unaffected.

      In every case, elements `b[0]` through `b[off]` and elements `b[off+len]` through `b[b.length-1]` are unaffected.

      Overrides:
        `read` in class `FilterInputStream`
      Parameters:
        `b` - the buffer into which the data is read.
        `off` - the start offset in the destination array `b`
        `len` - the maximum number of bytes read.
      Returns:
        the total number of bytes read into the buffer, or `-1` if there is no more data because the end of the stream has been reached.
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - If `b` is `null`.
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If `off` is negative, `len` is negative, or `len` is greater than `b.length - off`
        `IOException` - if the first byte cannot be read for any reason other than end of file, the stream has been closed and the underlying input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`, `InputStream.read(byte[], int, int)`

    - #### readFully

          public final void readFully(byte[] b)
                               throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readFully` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readFully` in interface `DataInput`
      Parameters:
        `b` - the buffer into which the data is read.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading all the bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readFully

          public final void readFully(byte[] b,
                                      int off,
                                      int len)
                               throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readFully` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readFully` in interface `DataInput`
      Parameters:
        `b` - the buffer into which the data is read.
        `off` - the start offset of the data.
        `len` - the number of bytes to read.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading all the bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### skipBytes

          public final int skipBytes(int n)
                              throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `skipBytes` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `skipBytes` in interface `DataInput`
      Parameters:
        `n` - the number of bytes to be skipped.
      Returns:
        the actual number of bytes skipped.
      Throws:
        `IOException` - if the contained input stream does not support seek, or the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.

    - #### readBoolean

          public final boolean readBoolean()
                                    throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readBoolean` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readBoolean` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the `boolean` value read.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream has reached the end.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readByte

          public final byte readByte()
                              throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readByte` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readByte` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next byte of this input stream as a signed 8-bit `byte`.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream has reached the end.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readUnsignedByte

          public final int readUnsignedByte()
                                     throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readUnsignedByte` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readUnsignedByte` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next byte of this input stream, interpreted as an unsigned 8-bit number.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream has reached the end.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readShort

          public final short readShort()
                                throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readShort` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readShort` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next two bytes of this input stream, interpreted as a signed 16-bit number.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading two bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readUnsignedShort

          public final int readUnsignedShort()
                                      throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readUnsignedShort` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readUnsignedShort` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next two bytes of this input stream, interpreted as an unsigned 16-bit integer.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading two bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readChar

          public final char readChar()
                              throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readChar` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readChar` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next two bytes of this input stream, interpreted as a `char`.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading two bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readInt

          public final int readInt()
                            throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readInt` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readInt` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next four bytes of this input stream, interpreted as an `int`.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading four bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readLong

          public final long readLong()
                              throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readLong` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readLong` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next eight bytes of this input stream, interpreted as a `long`.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading eight bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readFloat

          public final float readFloat()
                                throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readFloat` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readFloat` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next four bytes of this input stream, interpreted as a `float`.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading four bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `readInt()`, `Float.intBitsToFloat(int)`

    - #### readDouble

          public final double readDouble()
                                  throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readDouble` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readDouble` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next eight bytes of this input stream, interpreted as a `double`.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading eight bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `readLong()`, `Double.longBitsToDouble(long)`

    - #### readLine

          @Deprecated
          public final String readLine()
                                            throws IOException

      Deprecated. This method does not properly convert bytes to characters. As of JDK 1.1, the preferred way to read lines of text is via the `BufferedReader.readLine()` method. Programs that use the `DataInputStream` class to read lines can be converted to use the `BufferedReader` class by replacing code of the form:

      >          DataInputStream d = new DataInputStream(in);

      with:

      >          BufferedReader d
      >               = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(in));

      See the general contract of the `readLine` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readLine` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        the next line of text from this input stream.
      Throws:
        `IOException` - if an I/O error occurs.
      See Also:
        `BufferedReader.readLine()`, `FilterInputStream.in`

    - #### readUTF

          public final String readUTF()
                               throws IOException

      See the general contract of the `readUTF` method of `DataInput`.

      Bytes for this operation are read from the contained input stream.

      Specified by:
        `readUTF` in interface `DataInput`
      Returns:
        a Unicode string.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if this input stream reaches the end before reading all the bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
        `UTFDataFormatException` - if the bytes do not represent a valid modified UTF-8 encoding of a string.
      See Also:
        `readUTF(java.io.DataInput)`

    - #### readUTF

          public static final String readUTF(DataInput in)
                                      throws IOException

      Reads from the stream `in` a representation of a Unicode character string encoded in modified UTF-8 format; this string of characters is then returned as a `String`. The details of the modified UTF-8 representation are exactly the same as for the `readUTF` method of `DataInput`.
      Parameters:
        `in` - a data input stream.
      Returns:
        a Unicode string.
      Throws:
        `EOFException` - if the input stream reaches the end before all the bytes.
        `IOException` - the stream has been closed and the contained input stream does not support reading after close, or another I/O error occurs.
        `UTFDataFormatException` - if the bytes do not represent a valid modified UTF-8 encoding of a Unicode string.
      See Also:
        `readUnsignedShort()`

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