What is the advantage of using 'int' on arm64 architecture?
Since Apple forces apps using arm64 on next February, and it
suggests us using NSInteger, most of value we will probably be 8 bytes,
like size_t, time_t, etc. And also, most apps face no memory issue. Except for adopting data from or to other APIs using 'int', it seems there are little chance we use 'int', is that right?
More questions, is using 'int' be more efficient, saving more memory than 'long' in arm64?
I don't think you need int for consuming API's.
You can use an NSNumber property.
#property (nonatomic, copy) NSNumber *number;
You can get Integer value of NSNumber like this:
[number intValue];
You should try and stay away from using primitive data types like int, unsigned int, long, etc as their size is dependent on the current architecture of the platform. Instead you should use typedef'd datatypes like NSInteger, uint8_t, size_t as their size will always be consistent on different architectures. Then use which ever datatype is suitable for the current situation.
Note that for NSInteger and NSUInteger the size of the datatype is 32 bits on a 32-bit architecture and 64 bits on a 64-bit architecture.
Related
I'm parsing json object with Id (long) coming from a Java backend.
the id is declared as CLong in my app. On iPhones5 < it works, but on iPhone5 the id is invalid value.
CLong is a typedef for Int in the iOS SDK:
/// The C 'long' type.
public typealias CLong = Int
From the Swift docs:
On a 32-bit platform, Int is the same size as Int32.
On a 64-bit platform, Int is the same size as Int64.
Unless you need to work with a specific size of integer, always use Int for integer values in your code. This aids code consistency and interoperability. Even on 32-bit platforms, Int can store any value between -2,147,483,648 and 2,147,483,647, and is large enough for many integer ranges.
If you need to keep your Integer size consistent across multiple architectures, use Int32. If you value is larger than 32 bits, you should look into handling overflows. Also consider sending a different data type rather than a long from your backend, such as a String or NSNumber.
In LP64, the size of a long and the size of a long long are the same (Apple Docs, Unix Docs).
Is there any difference then, when limiting yourself to the understanding that you're running on an LP64 system (as XCode appears to when compiling for 64 bit), between a long and a long long? Is there any performance reason to use a long instead of a long long if your goal is a 64 bit integral?
Here's why I ask. In Objective C on Xcode, NSString's format (like printf) and NSNumber both use data types like int, long, long long and their unsigned variants when converting numbers and text and not specific bit length numbers like int16_t, int32. and int64_t. This would make it difficult to program things that require a certain minimum size (i.e. networking or currency applications) or times when you want to store specifically sized data into an NSNumber without typecasting.
Is it safe, limiting to any Intel Mac OS or iOS device, to use int for int32_t and long long for int64_t when interacting with things like NSString's format functions and NSNumber?
Is it safe, limiting to any Intel Mac OS or iOS device, to use int for int32_t and long long for int64_t when interacting with things like NSString's format functions and NSNumber?
According to the ILP32 & LP64 conventions yes, but you should really document that you are relying on these sizes.
One way to do that is to use a clever macro that originated (as I understand) in the Linux kernel:
#define BUILD_BUG_ON(condition) ((void)sizeof(char[1 - 2*!!(condition)]))
This macro will generate a compile time error if its condition argument is true, as in that case it attempts to determine the size of a negative-sized array. You can use it in the following simple function:
static __attribute__((unused)) void _compile_time_use_only_()
{
BUILD_BUG_ON( (sizeof(int) != 4) );
BUILD_BUG_ON( (sizeof(long long) != 8) );
}
Add that to your code and if you attempt to compile on any system where int is not 32-bits or long long is not 64-bits then you'll get a compile time error. There is essentially zero-cost at runtime (just a few bytes for the unused function).
Make sure you comment the function stating what it does!
You can of course assert the size of other types the same way.
HTH
Use either NSInteger or int64_t. NSInteger = fastest type with at least 32 bits, and compatible with sizes of arrays etc. int64_t = exactly 64 bit. This will also make the move to Swift easier.
I am trying to comprehend how development is affected when developing for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. From what I have researched thus far, I understand an int is always 4 bytes regardless of the architecture of the device running the app. But an NSInteger is 4 bytes on a 32-bit device and 8 bytes on a 64-bit device. I get the impression NSInteger is "safer" and recommended but I'm not sure what the reasoning is for that.
My question is, if you know the possible value you're using is never going to be large (maybe you're using it to index into an array of 200 items or store the count of objects in an array), why define it as an NSInteger? That's just going to take up 8 bytes when you won't use it all. Is it better to define it as an int in those cases? If so, in what case would you want to use an NSInteger (as opposed to int or long etc)? Obviously if you needed to utilize larger numbers, you could with the 64-bit architecture. But if you needed it to also work on 32-bit devices, would you not use long long because it's 8 bytes on 32-bit devices as well? I don't see why one would use NSInteger, at least when creating an app that runs on both architectures.
Also I cannot think of a method which takes in or returns a primitive type - int, and instead utilizes NSInteger, and am wondering if there is more to it than just the size of the values. For example, (NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section. I'd like to understand why this is the case. Assuming it's possible to have a table with 2,147,483,647 rows, what would occur on a 32-bit device when you add one more - does it wrap around to a -2,147,483,647? And on a 64-bit device it would be 2,147,483,648. (Why return a signed value? I'd think it should be unsigned since you can't have a negative number of rows.)
Ultimately, I'd like to obtain a better understanding of actual use of these number data types, perhaps some code examples would be great!
I personally think that, 64-bit is actually the reason for existence for NSInteger and NSUInteger; before 10.5, those did not exist. The two are simply defined as longs in 64-bit, and as ints in 32-bit.
NSInteger/NSUInteger are defined as *dynamic typedef*s to one of these types, and they are defined like this:
#if __LP64__ || NS_BUILD_32_LIKE_64
typedef long NSInteger;
typedef unsigned long NSUInteger;
#else
typedef int NSInteger;
typedef unsigned int NSUInteger;
#endif
Thus, using them in place of the more basic C types when you want the 'bit-native' size.
I suggest you to throughly read this link.
CocoaDev has some more info.
For proper format specifier you should use for each of these types, see the String Programming Guide's section on Platform Dependencies
I remember when attending iOS developer conference. you have to take a look on the data-type in iOS7. for example, you use NSInteger in 64-bit device and save it on iCloud. then you want to sync to lower device (say iPad 2nd gen), your app will not behave the same, because it recognizes NSInteger in 4 bytes not 8 bytes, then your calculation would be wrong.
But so far, I use NSInteger because mostly my app doesn't use iCloud or doesn't sync. and to avoid compiler warning.
Apple uses int because for a loop control variable (which is only used to control the loop iterations) int datatype is fine, both in datatype size and in the values it can hold for your loop. No need for platform dependent datatype here. For a loop control variable even a 16-bit int will do most of the time.
Apple uses NSInteger for a function return value or for a function argument because in this case datatype [size] matters, because what you are doing with a function is communicating/passing data with other programs or with other pieces of code.
Apple uses NSInteger (or NSUInteger) when passing a value as an
argument to a function or returning a value from a function.
The only thing I would use NSInteger for is passing values to and from an API that specifies it. Other than that it has no advantage over an int or a long. At least with an int or a long you know what format specifiers to use in a printf or similar statement.
As a continue to Irfan's answer:
sizeof(NSInteger)
equals a processor word's size. It is much more simple and faster for processor to operate with words
Newbie in IOS programming here.
I was looking at the Foundation Types Data Reference and have started to use the NSInteger typedef on the assumption that it will make my app more portable. However I often have a use for 16-bit and 8-bit integers and I don't see an NSShort or NSByte.
It seems wasteful to allocate a 32/64 bit variable for something that has a small range, say 0 to 12.
Are there any symbols that are defined for that?
Use uint8_t and uint16_t if you want types that are a specific size. There are also similar types for 32 and 64 bits values.
When should I be using NSInteger vs. int when developing for iOS? I see in the Apple sample code they use NSInteger (or NSUInteger) when passing a value as an argument to a function or returning a value from a function.
- (NSInteger)someFunc;...
- (void)someFuncWithInt:(NSInteger)value;...
But within a function they're just using int to track a value
for (int i; i < something; i++)
...
int something;
something += somethingElseThatsAnInt;
...
I've read (been told) that NSInteger is a safe way to reference an integer in either a 64-bit or 32-bit environment so why use int at all?
You usually want to use NSInteger when you don't know what kind of processor architecture your code might run on, so you may for some reason want the largest possible integer type, which on 32 bit systems is just an int, while on a 64-bit system it's a long.
I'd stick with using NSInteger instead of int/long unless you specifically require them.
NSInteger/NSUInteger are defined as *dynamic typedef*s to one of these types, and they are defined like this:
#if __LP64__ || TARGET_OS_EMBEDDED || TARGET_OS_IPHONE || TARGET_OS_WIN32 || NS_BUILD_32_LIKE_64
typedef long NSInteger;
typedef unsigned long NSUInteger;
#else
typedef int NSInteger;
typedef unsigned int NSUInteger;
#endif
With regard to the correct format specifier you should use for each of these types, see the String Programming Guide's section on Platform Dependencies
Why use int at all?
Apple uses int because for a loop control variable (which is only used to control the loop iterations) int datatype is fine, both in datatype size and in the values it can hold for your loop. No need for platform dependent datatype here. For a loop control variable even a 16-bit int will do most of the time.
Apple uses NSInteger for a function return value or for a function argument because in this case datatype [size] matters, because what you are doing with a function is communicating/passing data with other programs or with other pieces of code; see the answer to When should I be using NSInteger vs int? in your question itself...
they [Apple] use NSInteger (or NSUInteger) when passing a value as an
argument to a function or returning a value from a function.
OS X is "LP64". This means that:
int is always 32-bits.
long long is always 64-bits.
NSInteger and long are always pointer-sized. That means they're 32-bits on 32-bit systems, and 64 bits on 64-bit systems.
The reason NSInteger exists is because many legacy APIs incorrectly used int instead of long to hold pointer-sized variables, which meant that the APIs had to change from int to long in their 64-bit versions. In other words, an API would have different function signatures depending on whether you're compiling for 32-bit or 64-bit architectures. NSInteger intends to mask this problem with these legacy APIs.
In your new code, use int if you need a 32-bit variable, long long if you need a 64-bit integer, and long or NSInteger if you need a pointer-sized variable.
If you dig into NSInteger's implementation:
#if __LP64__
typedef long NSInteger;
#else
typedef int NSInteger;
#endif
Simply, the NSInteger typedef does a step for you: if the architecture is 32-bit, it uses int, if it is 64-bit, it uses long. Using NSInteger, you don't need to worry about the architecture that the program is running on.
You should use NSIntegers if you need to compare them against constant values such as NSNotFound or NSIntegerMax, as these values will differ on 32-bit and 64-bit systems, so index values, counts and the like: use NSInteger or NSUInteger.
It doesn't hurt to use NSInteger in most circumstances, excepting that it takes up twice as much memory. The memory impact is very small, but if you have a huge amount of numbers floating around at any one time, it might make a difference to use ints.
If you DO use NSInteger or NSUInteger, you will want to cast them into long integers or unsigned long integers when using format strings, as new Xcode feature returns a warning if you try and log out an NSInteger as if it had a known length. You should similarly be careful when sending them to variables or arguments that are typed as ints, since you may lose some precision in the process.
On the whole, if you're not expecting to have hundreds of thousands of them in memory at once, it's easier to use NSInteger than constantly worry about the difference between the two.
On iOS, it currently does not matter if you use int or NSInteger. It will matter more if/when iOS moves to 64-bits.
Simply put, NSIntegers are ints in 32-bit code (and thus 32-bit long) and longs on 64-bit code (longs in 64-bit code are 64-bit wide, but 32-bit in 32-bit code). The most likely reason for using NSInteger instead of long is to not break existing 32-bit code (which uses ints).
CGFloat has the same issue: on 32-bit (at least on OS X), it's float; on 64-bit, it's double.
Update: With the introduction of the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, iPad Mini with Retina, and iOS 7, you can now build 64-bit code on iOS.
Update 2: Also, using NSIntegers helps with Swift code interoperability.
As of currently (September 2014) I would recommend using NSInteger/CGFloat when interacting with iOS API's etc if you are also building your app for arm64.
This is because you will likely get unexpected results when you use the float, long and int types.
EXAMPLE: FLOAT/DOUBLE vs CGFLOAT
As an example we take the UITableView delegate method tableView:heightForRowAtIndexPath:.
In a 32-bit only application it will work fine if it is written like this:
-(float)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView heightForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
return 44;
}
float is a 32-bit value and the 44 you are returning is a 32-bit value.
However, if we compile/run this same piece of code in a 64-bit arm64 architecture the 44 will be a 64-bit value. Returning a 64-bit value when a 32-bit value is expected will give an unexpected row height.
You can solve this issue by using the CGFloat type
-(CGFloat)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView heightForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
return 44;
}
This type represents a 32-bit float in a 32-bit environment and a 64-bit double in a 64-bit environment. Therefore when using this type the method will always receive the expected type regardless of compile/runtime environment.
The same is true for methods that expect integers.
Such methods will expect a 32-bit int value in a 32-bit environment and a 64-bit long in a 64-bit environment. You can solve this case by using the type NSInteger which serves as an int or a long based on the compile/runtime environemnt.
int = 4 byte (fixed irrespective size of the architect)
NSInteger = depend upon size of the architect(e.g. for 4 byte architect = 4 byte NSInteger size)