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Non-Compliant Code Example

Type range errors, including loss of data (truncation) and loss of sign (sign errors), can occur when converting from an unsigned type to a signed type. The following code is likely to result in a truncation error for almost all implementations:

unsigned long int ul = ULONG_MAX;
signed char sc;
sc = (signed char)ul; /* cast eliminates warning */

Compliant Solution

Validate ranges when converting from an unsigned type to a signed type. The following code, for example, can be used when converting from unsigned long int to a signed char.

unsigned long int ul = ULONG_MAX;
signed char sc;
if (ul <= SCHAR_MAX) {
  sc = (signed char)ul;  /* use cast to eliminate warning */
}
else {
  /* handle error condition */
}

Non-Compliant Code Example

Type range errors, including loss of data (truncation) and loss of sign (sign errors), can occur when converting from a signed type to an unsigned type. The following code results in a loss of sign:

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NOTE: While unsigned types can usually represent all positive values of the corresponding signed type, this relationship is not guaranteed by the C99 standard.

Non-Compliant Code Example

A loss of data (truncation) can occur when converting from a signed type to a signed type with less precision. The following code is likely to result in a truncation error for most implementations:

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Conversions from signed types with greater precision to signed types with lesser precision require both the upper and lower bounds to be checked.

Non-Compliant Code Example

A loss of data (truncation) can occur when converting from an unsigned type to an unsigned type with less precision. The following code is likely to result in a truncation error for most implementations:

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