What is the difference between char and unsigned char?

Question

(Edited change C/C++ to C)

Please help me to find out a clean clarification on char and unsigned char in C. Specially when we transfer data between embedded devices and general PCs (The difference between buffer of unsigned char and plain char ).

Answer 1

You're asking about two different languages but, in this respect, the answer is (more or less) the same for both. You really should decide which language you're using though.

Differences:

• they are distinct types
• it's implementation-defined whether char is signed or unsigned

Similarities:

• they are both integer types
• they are the same size (one byte, at least 8 bits)

If you're simply using them to transfer raw byte values, with no arithmetic, then there's no practical difference.

Answer 2

The type char is special. It is not an unsigned char or a signed char. These are three distinct types (while int and signed int are the same types). A char might have a signed or unsigned representation.

From 3.9.1 Fundamental types

Plain char, signed char, and unsigned char are three distinct types. A char, a signed char, and an unsigned char occupy the same amount of storage and have the same alignment requirements (3.11); that is, they have the same object representation.