How to specify 64 bit integers in c

64-bitcsizeof

I'm trying to use 64 bit integers in C, but am getting mixed signals as to whether it should be possible.

When I execute the printf:

printf("Size of long int:%d\nSize of long long int:%d\n\n",(int)sizeof(long int), (int)sizeof(long long int));

The response I get is:

Size of long int:4
Size of long long int:8

This makes me feel that a long long int has 8 bytes = 64 bits.

However, when I try to declare the following variables:

long long int a2 = 0x00004444;
long long int b2 = 0x000044440;
long long int c2 = 0x0000444400;
long long int d2 = 0x00004444000;
long long int e2 = 0x000044440000;
long long int f2 = 0x0000444400004;
long long int g2 = 0x00004444000044;
long long int h2 = 0x000044440000444;
long long int i2 = 0x0000444400004444;

The last 4 variables (f2,g2,h2,i2) give me the error message:

warning: integer constant is too large for ‘long’ type

I get the same result when I replace 'long long int' with 'int64_t'. I assume 'int64_t' was recognized, since it didn't generate any error messages of its own.

So, it appears my 8 byte long long int is really a 6 byte long long int, and I don't understand what I'm missing here. If it's any help, here is the information on my gcc compiler:

me@ubuntu:~$ gcc -v  
Using built-in specs.  
Target: i686-linux-gnu  
Configured with: ../src/configure -v   
--with-pkgversion='Ubuntu/Linaro 4.4.4-14ubuntu5'  
--with-bugurl=file:///usr/share/doc/gcc-4.4/README.Bugs   
--enable-languages=c,c++,fortran,objc,obj-c++  
--prefix=/usr   
--program-suffix=-4.4   
--enable-shared   
--enable-multiarch   
--enable-linker-build-id   
--with-system-zlib   
--libexecdir=/usr/lib   
--without-included-gettext   
--enable-threads=posix   
--with-gxx-include-dir=/usr/include/c++/4.4   
--libdir=/usr/lib   
--enable-nls   
--with-sysroot=/ -  
-enable-clocale=gnu   
--enable-libstdcxx-debug   
--enable-objc-gc   
--enable-targets=all 
--disable-werror   
--with-arch-32=i686   
--with-tune=generic   
--enable-checking=release   
--build=i686-linux-gnu   
--host=i686-linux-gnu   
--target=i686-linux-gnu  
Thread model: posix  
gcc version 4.4.5 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.4.4-14ubuntu5)

If anyone knows how (or if) 64 bit integers are accessible to me, I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks….

Best Answer

Use stdint.h for specific sizes of integer data types, and also use appropriate suffixes for integer literal constants, e.g.:

#include <stdint.h>

int64_t i2 = 0x0000444400004444LL;

Setting a bit

Use the bitwise OR operator (|) to set a bit.

number |= 1UL << n;

That will set the nth bit of number. n should be zero, if you want to set the 1st bit and so on upto n-1, if you want to set the nth bit.

Use 1ULL if number is wider than unsigned long; promotion of 1UL << n doesn't happen until after evaluating 1UL << n where it's undefined behaviour to shift by more than the width of a long. The same applies to all the rest of the examples.

Clearing a bit

Use the bitwise AND operator (&) to clear a bit.

number &= ~(1UL << n);

That will clear the nth bit of number. You must invert the bit string with the bitwise NOT operator (~), then AND it.

Toggling a bit

The XOR operator (^) can be used to toggle a bit.

number ^= 1UL << n;

That will toggle the nth bit of number.

Checking a bit

You didn't ask for this, but I might as well add it.

To check a bit, shift the number n to the right, then bitwise AND it:

bit = (number >> n) & 1U;

That will put the value of the nth bit of number into the variable bit.

Changing the nth bit to x

Setting the nth bit to either 1 or 0 can be achieved with the following on a 2's complement C++ implementation:

number ^= (-x ^ number) & (1UL << n);

Bit n will be set if x is 1, and cleared if x is 0. If x has some other value, you get garbage. x = !!x will booleanize it to 0 or 1.

To make this independent of 2's complement negation behaviour (where -1 has all bits set, unlike on a 1's complement or sign/magnitude C++ implementation), use unsigned negation.

number ^= (-(unsigned long)x ^ number) & (1UL << n);

unsigned long newbit = !!x;    // Also booleanize to force 0 or 1
number ^= (-newbit ^ number) & (1UL << n);

It's generally a good idea to use unsigned types for portable bit manipulation.

number = (number & ~(1UL << n)) | (x << n);

(number & ~(1UL << n)) will clear the nth bit and (x << n) will set the nth bit to x.

It's also generally a good idea to not to copy/paste code in general and so many people use preprocessor macros (like the community wiki answer further down) or some sort of encapsulation.

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