Maximum value of unsigned char in C++

In this article, we will discuss the maximum value of unsigned char data type in C++.

Some properties of the unsigned char data type are:

• Being an unsigned data type, it can store only positive values.
• Unsigned char data type in C++ is used to store 8-bit characters.
• A maximum value that can be stored in an unsigned char data type is typically 255, around 2⁸ – 1(but is compiler dependent).
• The maximum value that can be stored in an unsigned char is stored as a constant in the <climits> header file, whose value can be used as UCHAR_MAX.
• A minimum value that can be stored in an unsigned char data type is 0.
• In case of overflow or underflow of data type, the value is wrapped around.
• For example, if 0 is stored in an unsigned char data type and 1 is subtracted from it, the value in that variable will become equal to 255. Similarly, in the case of overflow, the value will round back to 0.

Below is the program to get the highest value that can be stored in unsigned char in C++:

C++

// C++ program to obtain the maximum
// value that can be stored in an
// unsigned char

#include <climits>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Function to find the maximum value
// stored in unsigned char
void maxUnsignedChar()
{
    // From the constant of climits
    // header file
    unsigned char valueFromLimits = UCHAR_MAX;
    cout << "Value from climits "
         << "constant : "
         << (int)valueFromLimits
         << "\n";

    // Using the wrap around property
    // of data types

    // Initialize a variable with
    // value 0
    unsigned char value = 0;

    // Subtract 1 from value since
    // unsigned data type cannot store
    // negative number, the value will
    // wrap around and store the maximum
    // value that we can store in it
    value = value - 1;

    cout << "Value using the wrap "
         << "around property : "
         << (int)value << "\n";
}

// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // Function call
    maxUnsignedChar();

    return 0;
}

Output:

Value from climits constant : 255
Value using the wrap around property : 255