How do I clear the console in BOTH Windows and Linux using C++

Question

I need a cross platform solution for clearing the console in both Linux and Windows written in C++. Are there any functions in doing this? Also make note that I don't want the end-user programmer to have to change any code in my program to get it to clear for Windows vs Linux (for example if it has to pick between two functions then the decision has to be made at run-time or at compile-time autonomously).

Answer 1

There is no generic command to clear the console on both platforms.

#include <cstdlib>

void clear_screen()
{
#ifdef WINDOWS
    std::system("cls");
#else
    // Assume POSIX
    std::system ("clear");
#endif
}