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Groups > comp.lang.c > #105672

Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy

From Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy
Date 2017-03-09 09:05 -0800
Organization None to speak of
Message-ID <lninnigz2t.fsf@kst-u.example.com> (permalink)
References <o9ql0c$di9$1@dont-email.me> <pointer-20170309053057@ram.dialup.fu-berlin.de> <58c145b4.4445593@news.xs4all.nl>

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raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) writes:
> ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) wrote:
>>   »int« is the name of an integer type, not an abbreviation
>>   for "integer".
>
> Well... int _is_ an abbreviation for integer, it's just that in C, this
> abbreviation is used for a specific integer type, to wit, the "natural"
> type for signed integers on the system. This is at least 16 bits, these
> days usually 32 bits, and may be larger.

The name "int" certainly originated as an abbreviation for "integer",
but in C the name "int" doesn't *mean* "integer".

"int" is a C keyword.  It is also the name of one particular type, and
it's used as part of the syntax for the names of several other types
("unsigned int", "long int", etc.).  The type named "int" is one of a
dozen or so integer types, all of which are distinct.

A similar point of potential confusion: "const" is obviously derived
from the word "constant", but C's "const" keyword means "read-only".

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org  <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Working, but not speaking, for JetHead Development, Inc.
"We must do something.  This is something.  Therefore, we must do this."
    -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

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Thread

Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-08 20:20 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-08 20:57 -0800
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2017-03-09 00:46 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy gordonb.txjrp@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2017-03-09 03:29 -0600
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-09 12:39 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2017-03-09 10:16 +0000
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-09 12:40 -0800
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-09 13:25 -0800
      Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2017-03-10 21:02 +0000
        Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 17:49 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2017-03-09 10:22 +0000
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-09 12:40 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy GOTHIER Nathan <nathan.gothier@gmail.com> - 2017-03-09 12:48 +0100
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-09 12:43 -0800
      Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2017-03-10 10:22 -0500
        Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 11:47 -0800
          Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 12:42 -0800
        Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 19:52 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) - 2017-03-09 12:09 +0000
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2017-03-09 09:05 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2017-03-09 12:31 -0800
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-09 12:41 -0800
  Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2017-03-10 04:06 -0500
    Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 12:42 -0800
      Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2017-03-10 21:35 +0000
        Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 17:48 -0800
      Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2017-03-10 14:54 -0800
        Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy T <T@invalid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 17:43 -0800
      Re: Need explanation of C syntax for a Perl 6 guy James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2017-03-10 21:11 -0500

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