Are integer literals considered unsigned?

Question

If there is some positive integer literal in my code, say 50, does the compiler consider it as type unsigned int or int?

you have `U` for unsigned, therefore... – Karoly Horvath Mar 21 '14 at 11:11 — Karoly Horvath, Mar 21 '14 at 11:11
Thanks a lot for this question. – Suraj Jain Dec 30 '16 at 18:05 — Suraj Jain, Dec 30 '16 at 18:05

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 21 '14 at 11:11

6

A decimal integer literal is of the first type where it can be represented in int, long or long long.

50 is of type int.

unsigned literals can be specified using the u or U suffix. A decimal integer literal suffixed with u or U is of the first type where it can be represented in unsigned int, unsigned long or unsigned long long.

50U is of type unsigned int.

answered Mar 21 '14 at 11:11

ouah

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When is a decimal integer literal a long or long long? – user2460978 Mar 21 '14 at 11:12
@user2460978: when it's too large to fit in an `int`. – Wooble Mar 21 '14 at 11:13
@user2460978 read my answer again, if it cannot be represented in an `int`. – ouah Mar 21 '14 at 11:13
C11 §6.4.4.1 5 specifies this in detail. Interestingly, a _hexadecimal_ constant is the first type that fits in `int`, `unsigned int`, `long int`, `unsigned long int`, `long long int`, `unsigned long long int`. – chux - Reinstate Monica Mar 21 '14 at 13:54
is it signed or unsigned? – Suraj Jain Dec 30 '16 at 18:06
@SurajJain The answer is: it depends. Decimal unsuffixed integer literals are always signed (starting from C99). – ouah Dec 31 '16 at 12:58

Are integer literals considered unsigned?

1 Answers1