What does the stream insertion operator << do in C++?

In C++, the stream insertion operator << is used to send output to an output stream, such as std::cout. Here’s a breakdown of its purpose and usage:

Purpose:

• Output Data: It allows you to display data (like strings, numbers, or other types) to the console or any output stream.
• Chaining: You can chain multiple outputs together in a single statement.

Example Usage:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    int number = 42;
    std::cout << "The answer is: " << number << std::endl; // Outputs text and the value of number
    return 0;
}

Explanation:

• In the example, std::cout is the output stream, and << is used to insert the string "The answer is: " and the value of number into the output stream, which is then displayed on the console.

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