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Get Hiring UpdatesLiterals in C++
What are Literals ?
At its core, a literal is a fixed value that appears directly in the source code of a program. When the program is compiled, these values remain constant and cannot be changed during the execution of the program. C++ supports various types of literals, and each type serves a specific purpose.
Introduction
Consider the following examples:
| Literals | Example |
| Integer Literal | int myInteger = 42; |
| Floating-Point Literal | float myFloat = 3.14; |
| Character Literal | char myChar = ‘A’; |
| String Literal | std::string myString = “Hello, world!”; |
| Boolean Literal | stbool isTrue = true; |
| Null Pointer Literal | int* myPointer = nullptr; |
Integer Literals
Integer literals represent whole numbers without a fractional or decimal component. They can be specified in different formats, such as decimal, octal, or hexadecimal. C++ also allows the use of binary literals for better readability in representing binary numbers.
| Literals | Example |
| Decimal | int myDecimal = 42 |
| Octal | int myoctal = 052 |
| Hexadecimal | int myHex = ox2A |
| Binary | int myBinary = 0b101010 |
Floating-Point Literals
Floating-point literals are used to represent real numbers with fractional parts. They consist of a whole number part, a decimal point, a fractional part, and an optional exponent. Programmers can use either the traditional notation or scientific notation to represent floating-point literals.
| Literals | Example |
| Traditional Notation | double myDouble = 3.14; |
| Scientific Notation: | double mySciNotation = 3.0e8; |
Character Literals
Character literals represent single characters and are enclosed within single quotes (”). They allow programmers to work with individual characters in C++.
| Literals | Example |
| Character Literal | char myChar = ‘A’; |
String Literals
String literals, on the other hand, represent sequences of characters and are enclosed within double quotes (“”). They allow programmers to handle textual data, making string manipulation much more manageable.
| Literals | Example |
| String Literal | std::string myString = “Hello, world!”; |
Boolean Literals
Boolean literals represent truth values and can take one of two values: true or false. They are essential in conditional statements and logical operations.
| Literals | Example |
| Boolean Literal | bool isTrue = true; |
Null Pointer Literal
C++ introduces the concept of the null pointer literal, represented by the keyword “nullptr.” It is used to indicate that a pointer is not pointing to any memory location.
| Literals | Example |
| Null Pointer Literal | int* myPointer = nullptr; |
User-Defined Literals
One of the exciting features of C++ is user-defined literals. Programmers can define their own custom literals to work with specific data types and provide a more expressive syntax for their applications.
constexpr long double operator"" _inch(long double x) {
return x * 2.54;
}
// Usage:
long double lengthInCm = 10.0_inch; // Converts 10 inches to centimeters
Literal Suffixes
C++ allows literal suffixes to be appended to numeric literals. These suffixes indicate the data type of the literal, providing control over the type and size of the literal.
long long myLong = 42LL; float myFloat = 3.14f; unsigned int myUnsigned = 42u;
Combining Literals with Variables and Constants
Literals are often used in conjunction with variables and constants in C++. Understanding how to combine literals with other elements of the language is essential for writing powerful and flexible programs.int radius = 5; double area = 3.14 * radius * radius;
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