Search code examples
c++cintegerintunsigned

performance of unsigned vs signed integers

Is there any performance gain/loss by using unsigned integers over signed integers?

If so, does this goes for short and long as well?

Solution

  • Division by powers of 2 is faster with unsigned int, because it can be optimized into a single shift instruction. With signed int, it usually requires more machine instructions, because division rounds towards zero, but shifting to the right rounds down. Example:

    int foo(int x, unsigned y)
{
    x /= 8;
    y /= 8;
    return x + y;
}

    Here is the relevant x part (signed division):

    movl 8(%ebp), %eax
leal 7(%eax), %edx
testl %eax, %eax
cmovs %edx, %eax
sarl $3, %eax

    And here is the relevant y part (unsigned division):

    movl 12(%ebp), %edx
shrl $3, %edx