C (Basic) Data Types

-different data representations need different

types in programming-

www.tenouk.com, 1/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES

In C, data type categorized as:

1. Primitive Types in ANSI C (C89)/ISO C (C90) -

char, short, int, float and double.
2. Primitive Types added to ISO C (C99) - long
long
3. User Defined Types struct, union, enum
and typedef (will be discussed in separate session).
4. Derived Types pointer, array and function
pointer (will be discussed in separate session).

www.tenouk.com, 2/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Other
Type Size in Bits Comments
Names
Primitive Types in ANSI C (C89)/ISO C (C90)

sizeof() will give the size in units of chars.

need not be 8-bit
The number of bits is given by the CHAR_BIT
char 8
macro in the limits.h header.
Integer operations can be performed portably
only for the range: 0 ~ 127 (28 / 2).

Same as char Can store integers in the range: -127 ~ 127

signed char but guaranteed
(28) portably.
to be signed
Same as char Can store integers in the range: 0 ~ 255 (28)
unsigned char but guaranteed
portably.
to be unsigned.

char type program example

www.tenouk.com, 3/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 4/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Can store integers in the range:
-32767 ~ 32767 (216 / 2) portably.
short int,
16, size of Reduce memory usage though
short signed short,
char the resulting executable may be
signed short int
larger and probably slower as
compared to using int.
Can store integers in the range: 0
~ 65535 (216) portably.
unsigned Same as short Used to reduce memory usage
unsigned short int
short but unsigned though the resulting executable
may be larger and probably slower
as compared to using int.
Basic signed integer type.
Represent a typical processors
16, size of data size which is word-size signed,
int
short An integral data-type. signed int
Can store integers in the range:
-32767 ~ 32767 (216 / 2) portably.
Same as int but Can store integers in the range: 0
unsigned int unsigned
unsigned. ~ 65535 (216) portably.
short int type program example
www.tenouk.com, 5/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 6/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
long signed integer type.
long int,
32, size of Can store integers in the range:
long signed long,
int -2147483647 ~ 2147483647 (232 / 2)
signed long int
portably.
unsigned Same as long Can store integers in the range: 0 ~ unsigned long
long but unsigned 4294967295 (232) portably. int
Used to reduce memory usage when
the values used do not vary widely.
The format used is implementation
float size of char
defined and unnecessarily obeys the
IEEE 754 single-precision format.
unsigned cannot be specified.
Typical floating-point data type used
by processor.
The format used is implementation
double size of float
defined and unnecessarily obeys the
IEEE 754 double-precision format.
unsigned cannot be specified.
size of
long double unsigned cannot be specified.
double

long int type program example www.tenouk.com, 7/31

 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 8/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES

Type Size in Bits Comments Other Names

Primitive Types added to ISO C (C99)
Can store integers in
the range: long long int,
64, size -92233720368547758 signed long long,
long long
of long 07 ~ signed long long
922337203685477580 int
7 (264 / 2) portably.
Same as Can store integers in
unsigned long long, the range: 0 ~ unsigned long long
long long but 184467440737095516 int
unsigned. 15 (264) portably.

long long int type program example

www.tenouk.com, 9/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 10/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
It is a typedef represents
Signed integer types the signed integer type with
capable of largest possible range.
intmax_t representing any If you want an integer with
value of any signed the widest range possible on
integer type. the platform on which it is
being used.
It is a typedef represents
Unsigned integer
the unsigned integer type
types capable of
with largest possible range.
representing any
uintmax_t If you want an integer with
value of any
the widest range possible on
unsigned integer
the platform on which it is
type
being used.

Not supported by MSVC++ < 2012 Program example

www.tenouk.com, 11/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 12/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Unfortunately this is not supported by MSVC++
< 2012
inttypes.h vs. stdint.h: The C99 standard
says that inttypes.h includes stdint.h, so
there's no need to include stdint.h separately in
a standard environment.
Some implementations have inttypes.h but not
stdint.h.
VS/VC++ users may want to use msinttypes.
Other references,
1. http://www.qnx.com/developers/docs/6.5.0/index.jsp?topic=/com.qnx.doc.dinkum
_en_c99/stdint.html
2. http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/007904975/basedefs/stdint.h.html
3. http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v7r1m0/index.jsp?topic=%2Frtr
ef%2Fstdinth.htm

www.tenouk.com, 13/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Actual size of integer types varies by implementation: Windows, Linux,
BSD etc.
The only guarantee is that the long long is not smaller than long,
which is not smaller than int, which is not smaller than short.

long long > long > int > short

int should be the integer type that the target processor is most efficient
working with. For example, all types can be 64-bit.
Actual size of floating point types also varies by implementation.
The only guarantee is that the long double is not smaller than
double, which is not smaller than float.

long double > double > float

The 32-bit and 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point formats should be used.
www.tenouk.com, 14/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Boolean type

The boolean (true/false) type is _Bool defined in

stdbool.h
The stdbool.h type also defines a few useful identifiers
as macros: bool is defined as _Bool, true as 1, false as
0.
Additionally, __bool_true_false_are_defined is
defined as 1.
The _Bool type and stdbool.h header did not exist in
pre-1999 versions of the standard.

bool in VC++ example bool in Pelles C example

www.tenouk.com, 15/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Size and pointer difference types

Separate size_t and ptrdiff_t types to represent memory-related

quantities.

Existing types were inadequate, because their size is defined according

to the target processor's arithmetic capabilities, not the memory
capabilities, such as the address space availability.

Both of these types are defined in the stddef.h header file (cstddef in
C++).

size_t is used to represent the maximum size of any object (including

arrays) in the particular implementation.

An unsigned integer type used to represent the sizes of objects

size_t program example
www.tenouk.com, 16/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 17/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Used as the return type of the sizeof() operator.
The maximum size of size_t is provided via SIZE_MAX, a
macro constant which is defined in the stdint.h header file
(cstdint in C++).
It is guaranteed to be at least 65535.
ptrdiff_t is used to represent the difference between
pointers.
Is the signed integer type of the result of subtracting two
pointers.
The type's size is chosen so that it could store the
maximum size of a theoretically possible array of any type.
On a 32-bit system ptrdiff_t will take 32 bits and on a
64-bit one - 64 bits and it is portable.
size_t and ptrdiff_t: a story ptrdiff_t program example

www.tenouk.com, 18/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES

A sample output.

www.tenouk.com, 19/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Interface to the properties of the basic types

Information about the actual properties, such as

size, of the basic arithmetic types, is provided via
macro constants in two header files,

1) limits.h header (climits in C++) defines

macros for integer types.
2) float.h header (cfloat in C++) defines
macros for floating-point types.

The actual values depend on the implementation.

www.tenouk.com, 20/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Fixed width integer types

C99 standard includes definitions of several new integer

types to enhance programs portability.
Existing basic integer types were considered inadequate;
because their actual sizes are implementation defined and
may vary across different systems.
The new types are especially useful in embedded
environments where hardware supports limited to several
types and varies from system to system.
All new types are defined in inttypes.h (cinttypes in C++)
and stdint.h (cstdint in C++) header files.
The types can be grouped into the following categories:

www.tenouk.com, 21/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES
Exact width integer types - are guaranteed to have the
same number N of bits across all implementations.
Included only if it is available in the implementation.
Least width integer types - are guaranteed to be the
smallest type available in the implementation, that has at
least specified number N of bits. Guaranteed to be
specified for at least N=8, 16, 32, 64.
Fastest integer types - are guaranteed to be the fastest
integer type available in the implementation, that has at
least specified number N of bits. Guaranteed to be
specified for at least N=8, 16, 32, 64.
Pointer integer types - are guaranteed to be able to hold a
pointer.
Maximum width integer types - are guaranteed to be the
largest integer type in the implementation.
www.tenouk.com, 22/31
 C BASIC (DATA) TYPES

The following table summarizes the types and

the interface to acquire the implementation
details (N refers to the number of bits).

Signed types Unsigned types

Type category
Type Min value Max value Type Min value Max value
Exact width intN_t INTN_MIN INTN_MAX uintN_t 0 UINTN_MAX

Least width int_leastN_t INT_LEASTN_MIN INT_LEASTN_MAX uint_leastN_t 0 UINT_LEASTN_MAX

Fastest int_fastN_t INT_FASTN_MIN INT_FASTN_MAX uint_fastN_t 0 UINT_FASTN_MAX

Pointer intptr_t INTPTR_MIN INTPTR_MAX uintptr_t 0 UINTPTR_MAX

Maximum width intmax_t INTMAX_MIN INTMAX_MAX uintmax_t 0 UINTMAX_MAX

www.tenouk.com, 23/31
 USER DEFINED (DATA) TYPES
Keyword Size Note
sum of size
An aggregate type which can contain more
struct of each
than one different types.
member
typedef struct
tag or label is optional {
struct theEmployee { int x;
int age; int SomeArray[100];
} MyFoo;
double salary;
char department; int main()
char name[15]; {
char address[5][25]; MyFoo strctVar;
};
struct theEmployee workerRec; return 0;
}
struct newPoint {
short xPoint;
short yPoint;
} justPoint;

justPoint thePoint;
www.tenouk.com, 24/31
 USER DEFINED (DATA) TYPES
An aggregate type which can contain more than
size of the
one other types. union uses shared memory
union largest
space compared to struct, so only one member
member
can be accessed at one time.
union someData
{
int pNum;
float qNum;
double rNum;
};
union someData simpleData;
union OtherData{
char aNum;
int xNum;
float fNum;
} simpleData;
simpleData saveData;
www.tenouk.com, 25/31
 USER DEFINED (DATA) TYPES

Enumerations are a separate type from

size of ints, though they are mutually
enum
char convertible. Used to declare identifiers as
constants in an ordered manner.
enum ndays {Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun};

/ * Creates enum days type, which the identifiers are set

automatically to the integers 0 to 6. */
enum ndays ndayCount;
enum trafficDirection{
north,
south, enum cColor = {red = 2,
east, green, blue, black};
west
}; Enum cColor ccolorCode;
enum trafficDirection newDirection;

www.tenouk.com, 26/31
 USER DEFINED (DATA) TYPES
same as the type; typedef used to give new identifier names or alias (to
typedef being given a new simplify the long identifier names), normally used for
name aggregate defined types.

typedef unsigned char BYTE; /* Declares BYTE to be a synonym for unsigned char */
typedef float FLOAT; /* Declares FLOAT (uppercase letter) to be a synonym for unsigned float
(lowercase) */

tag or label is optional

typedef struct TOKEN_SOURCE {
typedef struct simpleData
{ int nData; CHAR SourceName[8];
char cData; LUID SourceIdentifier;
} newNameType; } TOKEN_SOURCE, *PTOKEN_SOURCE;
Or
TOKEN_SOURCE newToken;
typedef struct { int nData; char
cData;} newNameType;
newNameType strctType;

typedef enum DayNames { Monday,

typedef union unData{
Tuesday,
double lngSalary;
Wednesday,
int nDay;
Thursday,
}newUntype;
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
} Weekdays;
newUnType lntotalSalary;
Weekdays dayOfWeek;
www.tenouk.com, 27/31
 DERIVED (DATA) TYPES
Type Size Note
Hold the memory address which point to the actual
data/value.
0 address always represents the null pointer (an
address where no data can be placed),
irrespective of what bit sequence represents the
value of a null pointer.
type* Pointers to different types will have different sizes.
size of char So they are not convertible to one another.
(a pointer) Even in an implementation which guarantees all
data pointers to be of the same size, function
pointers and data pointers are in general
incompatible with each other.
For functions taking a variable number of
arguments, the arguments passed must be of
appropriate type.
char *ptoChar;
char csimpleChr = 'T'; int iNumber = 20;
char *chptr;
// assignment int *imyPtr = &iNumber;
chptr = &csimpleChr;

www.tenouk.com, 28/31
 DERIVED (DATA) TYPES
Use to declare a variable with
collection of identical properties or
types.
Simplify variable declaration.
In a declaration which also initializes
type [integer]
integer size of the array (including a function
type parameter declaration), the size of
(an array)
the array (the integer) can be
omitted, which is called unsized.
type [ ] is not the same as type*.
Only under some circumstances one
can be converted to the other.

char cName1[ ] =
{'a','r','r','a','y'};
int fstudentNumber[3] = {4,7,1};
char cName2[ ] = {"array"};
int nrowandColumn[1][2] = {34, 21}; char cName3[6] = "array";
int nlongHeightWidth[3][4][5] = 0; int nrowCol[2][3] = {4,2,3,7,2,8};

www.tenouk.com, 29/31
 DERIVED (DATA) TYPES

type (comma- allow referencing functions with a

delimited list of particular signature.
types/declarations) Function pointers are invoked by
name just like normal function
(a function pointers) calls. Function pointers are
separate from pointers and void
pointers.
/* two arguments function pointer */
int (* fptr) (int arg1, int arg2)

/* to store the address of the standard

function stdFunct in the variable myIntFunct */
int (*myIntFunct)(int) = stdFunct;

www.tenouk.com, 30/31
End of the C data types

www.tenouk.com, 31/31