char 8bit wide or 7bit wide in c++?

[Web Developer]

Hi,

Have a book that says a char in c++ is 8bit wide. But i remember reading
that C++ uses ANSI character set which uses 7bit per character. Who is
right?


WD

 

[John Harrison]

Hi,

Have a book that says a char in c++ is 8bit wide. But i remember reading
that C++ uses ANSI character set which uses 7bit per character. Who is
right?

Neither. In fact every statement about C++ above is wrong. Here's the truth.

In C++ a byte must be at least 8 bits. A char must be a single byte.

C++ does not use the ANSI character set (maybe you mean ASCII?), it might,
but it does not have to, it could use a completely different character set.

Even if C++ did use a seven bit character set, then it would do so in a
eight bit character (probably) and just ignore the extra bit.

john

 

[John Harrison]

Neither. In fact every statement about C++ above is wrong. Here's the truth.

What's the book BTW?

john