Where to find topics on unsigned variables?

Question

One example is this type ones:
byte etyb = -1 ;
int johns = 255& etyb ;
int skirt = etyb &255 ;
long trousers = johns != skirt ? (short) skirt ++ : (long) johns | --etyb << 1;
\r\n\r\n :)

Answer 1

Java has a single unsigned primitive type, char.
The two uses for unsigned types (AFAIK) are to store larger numbers without incurring storage overheads, or to perform bit operations on.
As for the former, there are very few situtations nowadays in which storing an extra 4 bytes for a value is unacceptable.
As for the latter, it can be seen from the example given that bit operations can be performed normally with signed primitives if you are careful. Know the difference between >> and >>> before proceeding.
is an interesting operator... rather than create unsigned types, Java has chosen to introduce an unsigned operator :-)Having said all that, I don't actually know any topics on unsigned variable types. Perhaps searching the forums for 'unsigned', or the internet for 'java unsigned' or 'java bit operations'. Then ignore hits for unsigned applets :-)
-T