Is `0` an Octal Literal in C ?

Is Zero an Octal Literal in C ?

A recent discussion raised the question of whether 0 is considered a decimal or an octal literal in C . While it may seem inconsequential, understanding the classification of this ubiquitous value is crucial for accurate interpretation.

According to the C Standard (2.14.2), an octal literal is defined as "0" followed by one or more octal digits. Since 0 meets this criterion, it qualifies as an octal literal.

This distinction is particularly relevant when working with legacy code or specific file permissions scenarios. For example, in Unix-like systems, file permissions are commonly represented using octal literals.

Therefore, despite the decreasing prevalence of octal literals in modern code, it's important to recognize that 0 remains an octal literal in C , as per the language's specification.

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