how to clear my previous output in Linux terminal using C?

Question

This is my sample program for simulating a Loading progress. The only problem I'm facing right now is clearing my previous output of "Loading: %i"

/* loading program */

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#define TIMELIMIT 5

int main()
{
    for(int i = 0, j; i < 5; ++i) {
        j = i;
        printf("Loading: %i%%", ++j);
        sleep(1);
    //system("bash -c clear");    not working
    //printf("\033[2J\033[1;1H"); clears whole screen with no output at all
    }
    return(0);
}

Answer 1

if you print \\r instead of \\n using printf , then it will return to the beginning of the same line instead of the next line. Then you can re-print the new status on top of the old line.

Answer 2

Anyway here is the correct code. Thanks to Mobius and Dmitri.

/* loading program */

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#define TIMELIMIT 5

int main()
{
    for(int i = 0, j; i < TIMELIMIT; ++i) {
        j = i;
        printf("Loading: %i%%", ++j);
        printf("\r");
        fflush(stdout);
        sleep(1);
    }
    return(0);
}

Answer 3

I think the answer to this question is system("reset"). This is the command you're looking for

    reset

this command clears your whole terminal.

and your code go like this,

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#define TIMELIMIT 5

int main()
{
    int i,j;
    for(int i = 0, j; i < 5; ++i) {
        j = i;
        system("reset");
        printf("Loading: %i%%\n", ++j);
        sleep(1);
    //system("bash -c clear");    not working
    //printf("\033[2J\033[1;1H"); clears whole screen with no output at all
    }
    return(0);
}