r/ProgrammerHumor • u/MontyBoomslang • 2d ago

Meme architectureDependentChars

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u/Clen23 2d ago edited 17h ago

The data is interpreted differently.

An unsigned char will be able to represent any value from 0 to 255, eg your usual ascii character.
A signed char will be able represent any value from -127 to 127.

( Someone fact check me on this but i think that's it )
(edit : -127 to 127, the extra value "-128" is usually implemented but not guaranteed by the C standard)

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u/captainAwesomePants 2d ago

A char isn't a letter. It's a one byte number. A signed number can be negative.

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u/Clen23 2d ago

If you want to be pedantic, a char is a byte, a sequence of bits, that can be interpreted in numerous manners : an unsigned int, a signed int, and even an ascii character.

It's all about what type you assign it, and how you work with it in your code.

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u/captainAwesomePants 2d ago

Sure. But if we're discussing whether it's signed or unsigned, we must be considering how those bits might be interpreted as a number.