Show * while I input (Hide/mask input)

Question

I am in the process of getting password as input. I have gone through various examples but they either used while loop or SETCONSOLE method. Both had issues. Implementing while loop printed 1 * before I even entered a char. The other method used echo to HIDE the characters while I typed whereas I want to be printed. I would appreciate helping me masking my input with a * using SETCONSOLE method. I would be greatly obliged. The code's attached !

 void signup(){
    gotoxy(10, 10);
    string n, p1,p2;
     cout << "Enter your username: " << endl; // TEST if username already       exists
gotoxy(31, 10);
cin >> n;
lp:
gotoxy(10, 11);
cout << "Enter your password: " << endl; // TEST if username already exists
gotoxy(31, 11);

getline(cin, p1);
system("cls");
gotoxy(10, 10);
cout << "Re-Enter your password to confirm: " << endl; // TEST if username already exists
gotoxy(45, 10);
getline(cin, p2);



if (p2!=p1)
{
    system("cls");
    gotoxy(10, 10);
    cout << "Passwords donot match! Please enter again!";
        goto lp;
}

}

Answer 1

Here a simple example using getch. YES it c method, not c++, but it is very efficient.

It can be extended to block spaces, tabs, etc.

Also see the comments in the code...

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include<conio.h>
using namespace std;


int main(){ 
    string res;
    char c;
    cout<<"enter password:";
    do{
        c = getch();
        switch(c){
        case 0://special keys. like: arrows, f1-12 etc.
            getch();//just ignore also the next character.
            break;
        case 13://enter
            cout<<endl;
            break;
        case 8://backspace
            if(res.length()>0){
                res.erase(res.end()-1); //remove last character from string
                cout<<c<<' '<<c;//go back, write space over the character and back again.
            }
            break;
        default://regular ascii
            res += c;//add to string
            cout<<'*';//print `*`
            break;
        }
    }while(c!=13);
    //print result:
    cout<<res<<endl;
    return 0;  
}