Are There Fixed-Size Floating Point Types in C and C ?

Are There Fixed-Size Floating Point Types?

In the realm of data types, integer types like int32_t offer predictable sizes for representing integral values. However, when it comes to floating-point types, such as float, their size is not explicitly defined in the C or C standards.

Delving into the Uncertainty

The absence of standardized fixed-size floating point types stems from the fact that the float type is not guaranteed to represent a binary floating-point format. Some compilers may choose to use other non-binary formats, leaving developers uncertain about the precise size and representation of floating-point values across different systems.

Seeking Standardization

Despite the current lack of standardization, there is an ongoing working group exploring the possibility of incorporating IEEE-754 standard into the C language. This initiative could pave the way for recommending the addition of typedefs for fixed-size floating point types like float32_t.

Outlook for the Future

Should such typedefs be added to the C standard, it is likely that the C standard would eventually embrace them as well. This would provide developers with a standardized and consistent way to work with floating-point types of specific sizes, enhancing the predictability and portability of their code across various platforms.

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