(NATOMS-target)=
# NATOMS
Receive number of atoms.



## <NATOMS

Receive number of atoms

**Datatype:** `MDI_INT`  
**Quantity**: `1`  

 The engine sends the driver the number of atoms in the engine's system.

### Examples


::::{tab-set}

:::{tab-item} Python
:sync: python

```python
import mdi

# connect to the engine
mdi_engine = mdi.MDI_Accept_Communicator()

# receive the number of atoms from the engine
mdi.MDI_Send_Command("<NATOMS", mdi_engine)
natoms = mdi.MDI_Recv(1, mdi.MDI_INT, mdi_engine)

```
:::

:::{tab-item} C++
:sync: cpp

```cpp
#include "mdi.h"

// connect to the engine
MDI_Comm mdi_engine = MDI_Accept_Communicator();

// create a buffer to hold the number of atoms
int natoms;

// receive the number of atoms from the engine
MDI_Send_Command("<NATOMS", mdi_engine);
MDI_Recv(&natoms, 1, MDI_INT, mdi_engine);

```
:::

::::