variables and types(变量和数据类型)

1. byte and word

   • Byte is the basic unit you can get address in memory, which consists of 8 bits. （最小寻址单位）
   • Word is the basic unit you do the storage in the memory, which consists of 32 or 64 bits. （最小存储单位）

2. how to choose type

   • int or long long.
   • char may be signed or unsigned in diffrent machine. When you want to use char for a relatively small value, please assign it as signed char or unsigned char.
   • double is more prevalent with a much higher accuracy and similar cost in computation. long double is useless in practice.

3. type convertion

   • assign float to int, the decimals would be removed.
   • assign unsigned type a out of range number, the result would be a modulus in this unsigned range.
   • assign signed type a out of range number, the results would be undefined.

4. declaration and definition

   • declaration tell computer the type and name, but definition apply space in memory for this variable.
   • if u want declare a variable without definition, u can add extern before it, ex,
   • extern int i; declaration
   • int i; definition
   • extern int i = 0; definition. u can use obvious initialization to break the declaration brought by extern.
   • u can declare a varibale many times but only define it once. also, u can not initialize a extern variable inisde a funciton.

5. initialization

   • int i = 0; int i = {0}; int i(0); int i{0};
   • {0} is called list initialization, if there is unstable information in your deifinition, program will report errors.
   • double pi = 3.14; int i = {pi}; would be wrong, but int i = pi; would be ok;
   • for a internal type in c++, if u define a variable outside any function body, it would be initialized as default. in function, it is undefined.
   • for a variable you define, whether default initialization or not would depend on the class u defined.

6. scope

   • a name’s scope is from its declaration to the end of current function body, always differed by { }.

7. reference

   • reference is a compound variable, but not a object. it is just another name of an existing object. after defined, all the operations for this reference would be done to the object refered by it.
   • int ival = 1; int &ref = val; reference must be initialized and must be initialized by an object with the same type.