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# Boost Integer Library

Header / Docs | Contents | Use
`<boost/cstdint.hpp>` documentation | Typedef's based on the 1999 C Standard header <`stdint.h>`, wrapped in namespace boost. This implementation may #include the compiler supplied <`stdint.h>`, if present. | Supplies typedefs for standard integer types such as `int32_t` or `uint_least16_t`. Use in preference to <`stdint.h>` for enhanced portability. Furthermore, all names are safely placed in the boost namespace.
`<boost/integer_traits.hpp>` documentation | Template class `boost::integer_traits`, derived from `std::numeric_limits`. Adds `const_min` and `const_max` members. | Use to obtain the characteristics of a known integer type.
`<boost/integer.hpp>` documentation | Templates for integer type selection based on properties such as maximum value or number of bits. | Use to select the type an integer when some property such as maximum value or number of bits is known. Useful for generic programming.

## Rationale

The organization of boost integer headers and classes is designed to take advantage of `<stdint.h>` types from the 1999 C standard without resorting to undefined behavior in terms of the 1998 C++ standard. The header `<boost/cstdint.hpp>` makes the standard integer types safely available in namespace boost without placing any names in namespace std. As always, the intension is to complement rather than compete with the C++ Standard Library. Should some future C++ standard include `<stdint.h>` and `<cstdint>`, then `<boost/cstdint.hpp>` will continue to function, but will become redundant and may be safely deprecated.

Because these are boost headers, their names conform to boost header naming conventions rather than C++ Standard Library header naming conventions.

## Caveat emptor

As an implementation artifact, certain C <limits.h> macro names may possibly be visible to users of <boost/cstdint.hpp>. Don't use these macros; they are not part of any Boost specified interface. Use boost:: integer_traits<> or std::numeric_limits<> instead.

As another implementation artifact, certain C `<stdint.h>` typedef names may possibly be visible in the global namespace to users of `<boost/cstdint.hpp>`. Don't use these names, they are not part of any Boost specified interface. Use the respective names in namespace `boost` instead.

Revised: 18 Nov 2000