Find Out the Size and Limits of Data Types With This Program

Finding the Size and Limits of Data Types

When working with data types, it's important to be aware of their size and limits. Different data types have different memory sizes and constraint limits. Understanding these differences is key to writing efficient code that takes advantage of all the features of a programming language. Here's how to find out the size and limits of data types.

1. Learn About the Data Type

The size and limits of a particular data type depend on the programming language you're using. Before you can find out the size and limits of a data type, it is essential to have a basic understanding of the data type. Read up on the definition of the data type, and look at any official documentation from the programming language you are using.

2. Use Appropriate Functions and Operators

Most programming languages have functions or operators that can help you find the size and limits of a data type. For instance, in C, you can use the sizeof() operator to find the size of a data type. To find the upper and lower limits of a type, such as int or float, you can use the min() and max() functions. There are also other functions that can help you find out more specific information about data types, such as the precision of a double.

3. Research Online Resources

Another great resource for finding the size and limits of data types is online resources. There are several websites that provide comparison tables and overviews of different programming languages and their data types. These resources can provide useful information, such as size, range, and precision of different data types. They can also provide helpful examples and explanations.

4. Test the Data Type

Testing is the best way to confirm the size and limits of a data type. Set up a simple program that declares a variable of the data type you are interested in, then check the output and verify it matches the information you've found online or through other resources.

program

#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
int main()
{
	printf("sizeof(char) = %u\n",sizeof(char));
	printf("sizeof(short) = %u\n",sizeof(short));
	printf("sizeof(int) = %u\n",sizeof(int));
	printf("sizeof(long) = %u\n",sizeof(long));
	printf("sizeof(float) = %u\n",sizeof(float));
	printf("sizeof(double) = %u\n",sizeof(double));
	printf("sizeof(long double) = %u\n",sizeof(long double));

	printf("SCHAR_MIN = %d\n",SCHAR_MIN);
	printf("SCHAR_MAX = %d\n",SCHAR_MAX);
	printf("UCHAR_MAX = %d\n",UCHAR_MAX);
	
	printf("SHRT_MIN = %d\n",SHRT_MIN);
	printf("SHRT_MAX = %d\n",SHRT_MAX);
	printf("USHRT_MAX = %u\n",USHRT_MAX);
		
	printf("INT_MIN = %d\n",INT_MIN);
	printf("INT_MAX = %d\n",INT_MAX);
	printf("UINT_MAX = %u\n",UINT_MAX);
	
	printf("LONG_MIN = %ld\n",LONG_MIN);
    printf("LONG_MAX = %ld\n",LONG_MAX);
    printf("ULONG_MAX = %lu\n",ULONG_MAX);
    
	printf("FLT_MIN = %e\n",FLT_MIN);
	printf("FLT_MAX = %e\n",FLT_MAX);

	printf("DBL_MIN = %e\n",DBL_MIN);
	printf("DBL_MAX = %e\n",DBL_MAX);

	printf("LDBL_MIN = %e\n",LDBL_MIN);
	printf("LDBL_MAX = %e\n",LDBL_MAX);

	/*Number of digits of precision*/
	printf("FLT_DIG = %d\n",FLT_DIG);
	printf("DBL_DIG = %d\n",DBL_DIG);
	printf("LDBL_DIG = %d\n",LDBL_DIG);
	return 0;
}

Output:

sizeof(char) = 1
sizeof(short) = 2
sizeof(int) = 4
sizeof(long) = 4
sizeof(float) = 4
sizeof(double) = 8
sizeof(long double) = 12
SCHAR_MIN = -128
SCHAR_MAX = 127
UCHAR_MAX = 255
SHRT_MIN = -32768
SHRT_MAX = 32767
USHRT_MAX = 65535
INT_MIN = -2147483648
INT_MAX = 2147483647
UINT_MAX = 4294967295
LONG_MIN = -2147483648
LONG_MAX = 2147483647
ULONG_MAX = 4294967295
FLT_MIN = 1.175494e-038
FLT_MAX = 3.402823e+038
DBL_MIN = 2.225074e-308
DBL_MAX = 1.797693e+308
LDBL_MIN = -0.000000e+000
LDBL_MAX = -1.#QNAN0e+000
FLT_DIG = 6
DBL_DIG = 15
LDBL_DIG = 18

Conclusion

Understanding the size and limits of data types is crucial for writing efficient code. By learning about the data type and using appropriate functions and operators, you can find the size and limits of data types. Additionally, researching online resources and testing can help you better understand the sizes and limits of data types.