C++ Integer Limits

Microsoft Specific

The limits for integer types are listed in Table 2.6. These limits are also defined in the standard header file LIMITS.H.

Table 2.6   Limits on Integer Constants

Constant Meaning Value
CHAR_BIT Number of bits in the smallest variable that is not a bit field. 8
SCHAR_MIN Minimum value for a variable of type signed char. –128
SCHAR_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type signed char. 127
UCHAR_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type unsigned char. 255 (0xff)
CHAR_MIN Minimum value for a variable of type char. –128; 0 if /J option used
CHAR_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type char. 127; 255 if /J option used
MB_LEN_MAX Maximum number of bytes in a multicharacter constant. 2
SHRT_MIN Minimum value for a variable of type short. –32768
SHRT_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type short. 32767
USHRT_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type unsigned short. 65535 (0xffff)
INT_MIN Minimum value for a variable of type int. –2147483647 – 1
INT_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type int. 2147483647
UINT_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type unsigned int. 4294967295 (0xffffffff)
LONG_MIN Minimum value for a variable of type long. –2147483647 – 1
LONG_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type long. 2147483647
ULONG_MAX Maximum value for a variable of type unsigned long. 4294967295 (0xffffffff)

If a value exceeds the largest integer representation, the Microsoft compiler generates an error.

END Microsoft Specific