Little-endian or Big-endian

二进制存储的文件，多字节（例如四个字节的word）常常存在 Little-endian or Big-endian的问题，单字节的数据类型是不存在该问题的，所有的计算机字节的存储方式是完全相同的。

Little-endian or Big-endian出自《格列夫游记》，小人国的人争论从大头还是小头砸开鸡蛋。

    By the way, the big-endian / little-endian naming comes from Gulliver's Travels, where the Lilliputans argue over whether to break eggs on the little-end or big-end. Sometimes computer debates are just as meaningful :-)

摘自Understanding Big and Little Endian Byte Order
Big endian即先存高位字节。
Little endian即先存低位字节。

Big endian machine: Stores data big-end first. When looking at multiple bytes, the first byte (lowest address) is the biggest.
Little endian machine: Stores data little-end first. When looking at multiple bytes, the first byte is smallest.

最明确的办法是，逐个字节的存储，这样的代码在任何机器上都不会有歧义：

c = 0;     // point to location 0 (won't work on a real machine!)
*c = 0x12; // Set W's value
c = 1;     // point to location 1
*c = 0x34; // Set X's value
...        // repeat for Y and Z; details left to reader