Unsigned type?

Helium_Junkie · 5 Oct 2007 at 12:33

Can anyone explain what an unsigned type is? For example an unsigned int. I only get less than useful answers from google/msdn.

SiriusB · 5 Oct 2007 at 12:40

Positive values only. basically.

A signed integer for example could have the values -128 to +127

An unsigned integer the values 0 to +255.

Helium_Junkie · 5 Oct 2007 at 12:44

So it's pretty much as it sounds, hehe. Ok thanks

Inquisitor · 5 Oct 2007 at 12:44

A signed integer is one in which one of the bits is used to specify whether the number is negative or positive. This has the effect of shifting the range of numbers that can be stored in the variable downwards.

For example, an unsigned 16-bit integer can hold any value between 0 and 65535 (a total of 65536 possible values), whereas a signed 16-bit integer can hold any value between -32768 and 32767 (again, total of 65536 possible values).