Size Of Data Types In C
The different kinds of information that can be stored in variables in C programming are determined by data types. How much RAM must be set aside to hold each data type depends on its size. It's essential to comprehend C's data types' sizes in order to manage memory and optimize programs. This tutorial will discuss the size of several C data types.
Depending on the platform, compiler, and operating system, a C data type's size may change. But this specification specifies the minimal size for each data type, and this value is the same on all systems. It is common practice to measure a data type's size in bytes.
1. Integer:
Whole numbers are stored using integers. The four integer data types available in C are char, short, int, and long. Each integer data type has the following size:
- Char:
A single character is stored using the char data type. Char is one byte in size.
- Short:
The short data type holds integers that are less than or equal to 32767. Two bytes make up the length short.
- Int:
Integers that are either lower than or equal to 32767 or larger than -32767 are stored using the int data type. While integers normally have four bytes, the platform, and compiler may alter this.
- Long:
Any integer that exceeds -2147483647 but falls within 2147483647 will be recorded as a long data type.
2. Floating Points
You employ floating-point numbers to store true values with fractional components. The floating-point data types in C are double and float, respectively. Each form of floating-point data has three sizes:
- Float:
Each floating-point data type has three sizes: Floats are typically four bytes in size.
- Double:
Double-precision floating-point values are stored using the double data type. Double typically has an eight-byte size.
3. Pointers
They are used to modify data indirectly by drawing attention to the position of the data in memory. In 32-bit implementations, a pointer is generally four bytes in size and eight bytes in 64-bit versions.
4. Arrays
To store a collection of comparable data, arrays are utilized. By splitting the size of the data type by the total number of items in the arrays, one may calculate the size of an array.
5. Structures
The many data types that make up an accumulation are held in structures. A structure's size is determined by adding the measurements of all its component sections. However, the requirement for memory alignment may result in a structure being larger than the sum of its components.
6. Unions
Despite the similarities between unions and structures, only one value may be held at a time. A union's size as a whole is determined by its largest member.
The architecture and implementation of the system can affect the size of data types in C programs. The table below lists the common 32-bit data types and their sizes.
![Size Of Data Types In C](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/c/size-of-data-types-in-c1.png)
Long and pointer types' widths on a 64-bit machine could be 8 bytes, while all other data types remain the same. Long (8 bytes) and "long double" (often 10 or 16 bytes) are other advanced kinds of data that are accessible in C.
It's critical to remember that a data type's size can also be affected by the parameters of the compiler and the specific implementation. Use of the sizeof operator to ascertain a data type's size in a particular context is thus always recommended. As an example, "sizeof(int)" delivers the number of bytes that, in the present context, corresponds to the size of an integer.
Conclusion:
The size of C data types must be understood to optimize programs while handling memory effectively. The size of a C data type depends on the operating system, platform, and compiler. The C standard, however, establishes a minimal size for each data type that is constant across all platforms.