Modifier in C

The c compiler provides four reserve word named signed,unsigned,short and long are known as modifier.

A modifier is mainly used for modify type and size of variable.

  ð Modifier with char datatype

A char datatype mainly allowed only two modifier named signed and unsigned.

(a)    signed with char

When we define a variable without any modifier then variable bydefault preceded by signed modifie.

When a variable preceded by signed modifier then it ensures that a left most bit reserved for sign(+ve/-ve)

Example:-signed char ch;

                       or

                       signed char ch;

                                [0à -ve, 1à +ve]

range = -128 to 127

(a)    unsigned with char

When a variable preceded by unsigned modifier manually then it ensure that left most bit free for  sign(-ve/+ve).

                   When  a variable preceded by unsigned then it can store only positive value.

Example:-  unsigned char ch;

range= 0 to 255

NOTE:- If we try to use short or long modifier with variable then it doesn’t change type or size of variable.

  ð Modifier with int datatype

A datatype int allow all modifier i.e signed , unsigned, short and long.

(a)    signed with int

Example:-       signed int a;

                           or

                           signed int a;

                           signed a;

range = -32768 to 32767

(b)     unsigned with int

Example:- unsigned int a;

                        or

                        unsigned a;

range= 0 to 65535

(c)    short with int

When a variable preceded by short modifier then it ensure thatit can be used for bit operation. A short modifier doesnot change capacity of variable.

Example:-  short int a;

                                        or

                        short signed int a;

range = -32768 to 32767

(d)    long with int (%ld)

When a int type variable preceded by long modifier then it specify / allocates 4 bytes memory space.

Example:-  long int a;

                                          

                range = -2147483648 to 2147483647

  ð Modifier with float

A float datatype only allowed two modifier named short and long . It doesn’t allow signed or unsigned ,if we try to use signed or unsigned modifier with float then it leads to compile time error.

(a)    short with float

Example:- short float n;

                        or

                        short signed float n;

(b)   long with float

When float type variable preceded by long modifier then it specifies or allocates 8 byte memory space.

Example:- long float a;

  ð Modifier with double

A double datatype also only allowed two modifier named short and long. It doesn’t allow signed or unsigned.

(a)    short with double

Example:- short double n;

                        or

                        short signed double n;

(b)   long with double

When double type variable preceded by long modifier then it allocates 10 bytes memory space.

Example:- long double n;