Hi All, Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit? What the std. says? If that true, then what will the size of an int, i mean what sizeof(int) should return? On my machine sizeof(char) == sizeof(int). TMS320C5402 DSP (with 16-bit word size). both returns one. So, it holds true. But my interpretation is : Size of int,float etc is specified in terms of bytes, not bits...which is a standard i.e int -> 2 bytes, char -> 1 byte etc... now, actual size of these depends up on no. of bits in a byte... which is implementation defined. So, if we say on a machine its defined 1 byte = 8 bits then size(char) = 1byte = 8 bits size(int) = 2 bytes = 16 bits... but on other machine 1 byte = 16 bits the size(char) = 1byte = 16 bits and Size(Int) =2 bytes= 32 bits. In no case, it can be same for both char & int. Please help me where I am missing. -Neo
size of a byte and int?
Started by ●January 25, 2005
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
Neo wrote:> > Hi All, > > Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit?Width is measured in bits. Size is measured in bytes. -- pete
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
"pete" <pfiland@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:41F5FC17.1161@mindspring.com...> Neo wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit? > > Width is measured in bits. > Size is measured in bytes. > > -- > peteO'kay! What does int and char (data types in C) are measured in? -Neo
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
Neo wrote:> > Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit?Yes.> What the std. says?It says that a byte is CHAR_BIT bits in width, where CHAR_BIT >= 8.> If that true, then what will the size of an int, > i mean what sizeof(int) should return?It will be whatever it is on a given implementation.> On my machine sizeof(char) == sizeof(int). > TMS320C5402 DSP (with 16-bit word size). > both returns one. So, it holds true. > > But my interpretation is : > Size of int,float etc is specified in terms of bytes, not bits...No. Integers and floats are specified in terms of value limits and precision. The minimum range that a signed int must be able to represent is -32767..32767. Mathematics dictate that this requires at least 16 bits (including a sign bit.) Thus, an int will require _at least_ as many bytes as is required to store 16-bits.> Please help me where I am missing.Google for N869 and read the last public draft of the C99 standard. -- Peter
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
Neo wrote:> > "pete" <pfiland@mindspring.com> wrote in message > news:41F5FC17.1161@mindspring.com... > > Neo wrote: > >> > >> Hi All, > >> > >> Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit? > > > > Width is measured in bits. > > Size is measured in bytes. > > > > -- > > pete > > O'kay! What does int and char (data types in C) are measured in?Bytes or bits, depending on whether you want size or width. sizeof(char) is 1, by definition. A char comprises CHAR_BIT bits. CHAR_BIT is defined in <limits.h> and its value can vary from one implementation to the next, but it can be no lower than 8. sizeof(int) is at least 16 bits wide. Therefore, it must be at least (16 + CHAR_BIT - 1) / CHAR_BIT bytes in size (ignoring any remainder). int must be able to represent all values in the range -32767 to +32767.
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
>Bytes or bits, depending on whether you want size or width. > >sizeof(char) is 1, by definition.Could be 2 on some DSPs (IIRC TI's). -- 42Bastian Do not email to bastian42@yahoo.com, it's a spam-only account :-) Use <same-name>@monlynx.de instead !
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 13:11:04 +0530, "Neo" <timeless_illusion@yahoo.com> wrote:>Hi All, > >Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit?I think common sense is that a byte is nowadays 8 bit.>What the std. says? If that true, then what will the size of an int,Don't mix byte with char ! I don't think there is a std defining the width of a byte.>i mean what sizeof(int) should return? > >On my machine sizeof(char) == sizeof(int). >TMS320C5402 DSP (with 16-bit word size).^^^ That's it, they speak of words avoiding the term byte. A reason, to define __u8,__u16,__u32 etc. (or the like) depending on the cpu and/or compiler. -- 42Bastian Do not email to bastian42@yahoo.com, it's a spam-only account :-) Use <same-name>@monlynx.de instead !
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
42Bastian Schick wrote:>>Bytes or bits, depending on whether you want size or width. >> >>sizeof(char) is 1, by definition. > > > Could be 2 on some DSPs (IIRC TI's).No, it can't. By _definition_, sizeof(chat) is 1. This is stated in the C standard. -- Paul Black mailto:paul.black@oxsemi.com Oxford Semiconductor Ltd http://www.oxsemi.com 25 Milton Park, Abingdon, Tel: +44 (0) 1235 824 909 Oxfordshire. OX14 4SH Fax: +44 (0) 1235 821 141
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
42Bastian Schick wrote:> "Neo" > > Hi All, > > > > Is that true that size of a byte not necessarily 8-bit? > > I think common sense is that a byte is nowadays 8 bit.Sense, common to what? An 8-bit entity is called an 'octet' explicitly by many standards and protocols, precisely to avoid confusion.> > What the std. says? If that true, then what will the size of > > an int, > > Don't mix byte with char ! I don't think there is a std > defining the width of a byte.The standard does define that a byte has an implementation width which is big enough to hold the representation of a character from the basic character set. The standard also states that the size of all three character types is 1 byte.> >i mean what sizeof(int) should return? > > > >On my machine sizeof(char) == sizeof(int). > >TMS320C5402 DSP (with 16-bit word size). > ^^^ > That's it, they speak of words avoiding the term byte.Who is 'they'? A C programmer will still speak of bytes.> A reason, to define __u8,__u16,__u32 etc. (or the like) > depending on the cpu and/or compiler.Programs targetting hosted implementations will generally have little need for such types. Indeed, implementations on certain architectures may not be able to represent such precise width types, outside of inefficient emulation. C99 introduced the intN_t types to cater for programs which do rely on precise width twos complement integer types, however programs which make use of them are not strictly conforming. -- Peter
Reply by ●January 25, 20052005-01-25
"Peter Nilsson" <airia@acay.com.au> wrote in message news:1106646608.010225.80650@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...> 42Bastian Schick wrote:[-snip-]> C99 introduced the intN_t types to cater for programs which > do rely on precise width twos complement integer types, > however programs which make use of them are not strictly > conforming. > > -- > Peter >Why not conforming? Then why does the std. defines these? -Neo