c byte vs char

Difference between char and byte in C

In C, both char and byte are used to represent a sequence of bits. However, there are some differences between the two.

char: - char is a data type in C that represents a single character or a small integer value. - It is typically 8 bits in size and can store values ranging from -128 to 127 (assuming a signed char). - char is commonly used to represent characters in text, such as letters, digits, and symbols. - It can also be used to perform arithmetic operations, as it is internally represented as a number. - The char data type is often used to store characters in strings and arrays.

byte: - byte is not a built-in data type in C. It is more commonly used in languages like Java and C#. - In C, the equivalent of a byte is typically represented using an unsigned char. - An unsigned char is also 8 bits in size and can store values ranging from 0 to 255. - Like char, an unsigned char can be used to represent characters and perform arithmetic operations. - However, the term "byte" is often used to emphasize that the value represents a sequence of bits, rather than a character.

To summarize, char is a built-in data type in C that represents characters and small integers, while byte is not a built-in data type in C but can be represented using an unsigned char to emphasize its role as a sequence of bits.

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