Is there ‘byte’ data type in C++?

No there is no byte data type in C++. However you could always include the bitset header from the standard library and create a typedef for byte:

typedef bitset<8> BYTE;

NB: Given that WinDef.h defines BYTE for windows code, you may want to use something other than BYTE if your intending to target Windows.

Edit: In response to the suggestion that the answer is wrong. The answer is not wrong. The question was “Is there a ‘byte’ data type in C++?”. The answer was and is: “No there is no byte data type in C++” as answered.

With regards to the suggested possible alternative for which it was asked why is the suggested alternative better?

According to my copy of the C++ standard, at the time:

“Objects declared as characters (char) shall be large enough to store any member of the implementations basic character set”: 3.9.1.1

I read that to suggest that if a compiler implementation requires 16 bits to store a member of the basic character set then the size of a char would be 16 bits. That today’s compilers tend to use 8 bits for a char is one thing, but as far as I can tell there is certainly no guarantee that it will be 8 bits.

On the other hand, “the class template bitset<N> describes an object that can store a sequence consisting of a fixed number of bits, N.” : 20.5.1. In otherwords by specifying 8 as the template parameter I end up with an object that can store a sequence consisting of 8 bits.

Whether or not the alternative is better to char, in the context of the program being written, therefore depends, as far as I understand, although I may be wrong, upon your compiler and your requirements at the time. It was therefore upto the individual writing the code, as far as I’m concerned, to do determine whether the suggested alternative was appropriate for their requirements/wants/needs.

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