short int range in c++
The short int
data type in C++ represents a signed integer with a smaller range compared to the int
data type. Here are the steps to understand the range of short int
in C++:
Determine the number of bits: The
short int
data type uses 16 bits to store values. This means it can represent 2^16 = 65,536 unique values.Determine the range: Since
short int
is a signed data type, it can represent both positive and negative values. The range is divided symmetrically around zero. The minimum value thatshort int
can hold is -(2^(bits-1)) and the maximum value is (2^(bits-1))-1.
In this case, the minimum value is -(2^(16-1)) = -32,768 and the maximum value is (2^(16-1))-1 = 32,767.
- Understand the range limitations: It's important to note that the range of
short int
is limited compared to theint
data type, which typically uses 32 bits in most implementations. This means thatshort int
can represent a smaller range of values compared toint
. If a value exceeds the range ofshort int
, it may result in overflow or underflow.
For example, if you try to assign a value greater than 32,767 or less than -32,768 to a short int
variable, the value will wrap around and may not be accurate.
- Consider usage and optimization: The
short int
data type is often used when memory optimization is crucial, and the range of values to be stored is within the range ofshort int
. If you need to store larger values or require a wider range, it's recommended to use theint
data type instead.
Summary:
- The
short int
data type in C++ uses 16 bits to store values. - The range of
short int
is -(2^(bits-1)) to (2^(bits-1))-1. - For
short int
, the range is -32,768 to 32,767. short int
is useful for memory optimization when the range of values falls within its limitations.