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C++ Data Type Modifiers Explained

C++ allows modifiers like signed, unsigned, long, and short to alter data types like int, char, and double to more precisely define their usage. These modifiers can be applied to integer types as well as char and double in some cases. For example, unsigned long int defines an unsigned long integer. The modifiers provide additional information about whether a variable's value can be changed or accessed solely through that pointer.

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86 views2 pages

C++ Data Type Modifiers Explained

C++ allows modifiers like signed, unsigned, long, and short to alter data types like int, char, and double to more precisely define their usage. These modifiers can be applied to integer types as well as char and double in some cases. For example, unsigned long int defines an unsigned long integer. The modifiers provide additional information about whether a variable's value can be changed or accessed solely through that pointer.

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C++ MODIFIER TYPES

C++ allows the char, int, and double data types to have modifiers preceding them. A modifier is
used to alter the meaning of the base type so that it more precisely fits the needs of various
situations.
The data type modifiers are listed here:

signed

unsigned

long

short

The modifiers signed, unsigned, long, and short can be applied to integer base types. In
addition, signed and unsigned can be applied to char, and long can be applied to double.
The modifiers signed and unsigned can also be used as prefix to long or short modifiers. For
example, unsigned long int.
C++ allows a shorthand notation for declaring unsigned, short, or long integers. You can simply
use the word unsigned, short, or long, without the int. The int is implied. For example, the
following two statements both declare unsigned integer variables.
unsigned x;
unsigned int y;

To understand the difference between the way that signed and unsigned integer modifiers are
interpreted by C++, you should run the following short program:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

/* This program shows the difference between


* signed and unsigned integers.
*/
int main()
{
short int i;

// a signed short integer

short unsigned int j;

// an unsigned short integer

j = 50000;

i = j;
cout << i << " " << j;

return 0;
}

When this program is run, following is the output:


-15536 50000

The above result is because the bit pattern that represents 50,000 as a short unsigned integer is
interpreted as -15,536 by a short.

Type Qualifiers in C++


The type qualifiers provide additional information about the variables they precede.

Qualifie
r

Meaning

const

Objects of type const cannot be changed by your program during execution

volatile

The modifier volatile tells the compiler that a variable's value may be changed in
ways not explicitly specified by the program.

restrict

A pointer qualified by restrict is initially the only means by which the object it
points to can be accessed. Only C99 adds a new type qualifier called restrict.

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