Long integer

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In computer science, a long integer is a data type that can represent a positive or negative whole number whose range is greater than or equal to that of a standard integer on the same machine.

In practice it is usual for a long integer to require double the storage capacity of a standard integer, although this is not always the case. In later versions of the C programming language, a long long type is supported that doubles the capacity of the standard long to 64 bits. This type is not supported by compilers that require C code to be C++ ISO compliant, because the long long type does not exist in C++.

A variable defined as a long integer in one programming language may be different in size to a similarly defined variable in another. In some languages this size is fixed across platforms, whilst in others it is machine dependent. In some languages this data type does not exist at all.

[edit] Common sizes

Programming language Platforms Data type name Storage in bytes Range (Signed) Range (Unsigned)
C and C++ Unix, 32-bit long 4 [1] −2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 0 to 4,294,967,295
VB Windows Long 8 [2] -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to +9,223,372,036,854,775,807 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615
VBA Windows, Mac OS Long 4 [3] −2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 N/A
SQL Server Windows BigInt 8 −9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to +9,223,372,036,854,775,807 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615
.NET CLR/CTS Windows Long or Int64 8 −9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to +9,223,372,036,854,775,807 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615
Java Java platform long 8 −9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to +9,223,372,036,854,775,807 N/A
Pascal Windows longint or int64 8 −9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to +9,223,372,036,854,775,807 N/A
Python Windows , Unix, Mac OS long Not fixed Unlimited Unlimited
  1. ^ Variables. Data Types..
  2. ^ http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/y595sc15(VS.80).aspx
  3. ^ The Integer, Long, and Byte Data Types (VBA). Retrieved on 2006-12-19.

[edit] See also

Languages