STDINT(3)

💖 stdint(3) — standard integer types 💖

okay so bestie, welcome to stdint.h, the header that's literally the main character of "i need an integer of exactly this many bits" energy. it's stdint from section 3 of the library functions manual, and we're gonna get into it.

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <stdint.h>

that's it. that's the whole vibe check. one include and you're in. 🫶

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

the <stdint.h> header is giving source-portable integer types of a specific size, plus friends: smallest memory footprint with a minimum size, fastest access speed with a minimum size, largest integer size, and the ones capable of storing pointers. it's a whole little family, ngl. 👑

🎀 the exact-width girlies

the types int8_t, int16_t, int32_t, and int64_t provide a signed integer type of width 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits, respectively. and the types uint8_t, uint16_t, uint32_t, and uint64_t provide an unsigned integer type of width 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits, respectively.

these integer types should be used when a specific size is required. like, you need exactly 32 bits? this is your girl. no cap. 💅

💅 the fast girlies

the types int_fast8_t, int_fast16_t, int_fast32_t, and int_fast64_t provide the fastest signed integer type with a width of at least 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits, respectively. and the types uint_fast8_t, uint_fast16_t, uint_fast32_t, and uint_fast64_t provide the fastest unsigned integer type with a width of at least 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits, respectively.

these types should be used when access speed is paramount, and when a specific size is not required. speed over exactness, periodt. 🔥

🦋 the small-footprint girlies

the types int_least8_t, int_least16_t, int_least32_t, and int_least64_t provide the smallest memory footprint signed integer type with a width of at least 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits, respectively. and the types uint_least8_t, uint_least16_t, uint_least32_t, and uint_least64_t provide the smallest memory footprint unsigned integer type with a width of at least 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits, respectively.

these types should be used when memory storage is of concern, and when a specific size is not required. tiny but mighty, we stan. 🌸

👑 the maxxing girlies

the type intmax_t provides a signed integer type large enough to hold any other signed integer. the type uintmax_t provides an unsigned integer type large enough to hold any other unsigned integer.

these types are generally the largest signed and unsigned integer types available on a specific architecture. absolute units. iconic. 💀

🧚 the pointer girlies

the type intptr_t provides a signed integer type with the ability to hold a pointer to void, that can later be converted back to a pointer to void.

the type uintptr_t provides an unsigned integer type with the ability to hold a pointer to void, that can later be converted back to a pointer to void.

pointer goes in, pointer comes back out, the way that round-trips. 🌈✨

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🎀 SEE ALSO 🎀

• inttypes(3)
• limits(3)
• stdbool(3)
• unistd(3)

go read those too, iykyk 🦋

⭐ STANDARDS ⭐

the <stdint.h> header conforms to ISO/IEC 9899:1999 (“ISO C99”) and IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 (“POSIX.1”). certified official, fr fr. ✅

💜 HISTORY 💜

the <stdint.h> header was first introduced in NetBSD 1.6. a legend from the start, honestly. 🙈

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and that's the tea, bestie 💖 this lil page is a Debian joint, dated August 9, 2011, and it lives in section 3 — STDINT(3) — so go forth and pick your integer type with intention. slay. 💅✨🎀