boost - C++: digits vs bits? -
i trying understand difference of vocabulary used in c++ language between digits , bits in : char_bit; std::numeric_limits<char>::digits; is there conceptual difference? maybe weird architectures? if so, called result of operator[] of std::bitset . give access bit or digit? and current documentation of boost not help: cppint provides code digits documentation mention bits (this problem documentation, don't know whether text or code more recent.) from this std::numeric_limits::digits reference : the value of std::numeric_limits::digits number of digits in base-radix can represented type t without change. integer types, number of bits not counting sign bit. and later states char result char_bit - std::numeric_limits<char>::is_signed . and c numeric limits reference : char_bit number of bits in byte so normal modern computer, char 8 bits, char_bits equal 8 , digits function return either 7 or 8 depending on if char sign