C Extended Data Types

Extended data types combine a base type with modifiers -- short, long, signed, and unsigned -- that adjust its size, range, or ability to represent negative numbers.

In this page:

What are Extended Data Types?
short and long Modifiers
signed and unsigned Modifiers
long long for Very Large Numbers
Choosing the Right Extended Type

What are Extended Data Types?

Extended data types combine a base type like int or char with modifiers -- short, long, signed, and unsigned -- that adjust its size, range, or whether it can represent negative values.

Example: What are Extended Data Types?

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
	unsigned short small = 100;
	printf("%hu", small);
	return 0;
}

short and long Modifiers

The short and long modifiers adjust an integer type's typical size: short usually uses fewer bytes for a smaller range, while long usually uses more bytes to accommodate a wider range of values.

Example: short and long Modifiers

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
	short s = 100;
	long l = 1000000L;
	printf("%hd %ld", s, l);
	return 0;
}

signed and unsigned Modifiers

The signed and unsigned modifiers control whether an integer type can represent negative numbers: signed splits its range between negative and positive values, while unsigned dedicates the entire range to positive values and zero.

Example: signed and unsigned Modifiers

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
	signed int s = -5;
	unsigned int u = 5;
	printf("%d %u", s, u);
	return 0;
}

long long for Very Large Numbers

long long, introduced in C99, guarantees at least 64 bits of storage, making it the standard choice when a value might exceed what int or long can reliably hold across different systems.

Example: long long for Very Large Numbers

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
	long long big = 9000000000LL;
	printf("%lld", big);
	return 0;
}

Choosing the Right Extended Type

Choosing the right extended type means balancing memory usage against the range of values actually needed: a small always-positive count fits in unsigned char, while a value that could exceed a billion needs long long.

Example: Choosing the Right Extended Type

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
	unsigned char smallCount = 200;
	long long largeValue = 5000000000LL;
	printf("%u %lld", smallCount, largeValue);
	return 0;
}

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