Conversions from signed integral types

When a signed integer is converted to an integer or a floating-point type, the value is unchanged if it's representable in the result type.

When a signed integer is converted to an integer of greater size, the value is sign-extended. When converted to an integer of smaller size, the high-order bits are truncated. The result is interpreted using the result type, as shown in this example:

int i = -3;
unsigned short u;

u = i;
printf_s( "%hu\n", u );  // Prints 65533

When the compiler converts a signed integer to a floating-point type, if the original value isn't representable exactly in the result type, the result is the next higher or lower representable value.

For information about the sizes of integral and floating-point types, see Storage of basic types.

The following table summarizes conversions from signed integral types. It assumes the char type is signed by default. If you use a compile-time option to change the default for the char type to unsigned, the conversions given in the Conversions from unsigned integral types table for the unsigned char type apply, instead of the conversions in this table.

Microsoft Specific

In the Microsoft compiler, int and long are distinct but equivalent types. Conversion of an int value proceeds in the same way as conversion of a long.

END Microsoft Specific

Table of conversions from signed integral types

¹ All char entries assume that the char type is signed by default.

See also

Assignment conversions