Scalar Types
The latest version of this topic can be found at Scalar Types.
Although the access of data can stem from any alignment, it is recommended that data be aligned on its natural boundary to avoid performance loss (or a multiple thereof). Enums are constant integers and are treated as 32-bit integers. The following table describes the type definition and recommended storage for it as it pertains to alignment using the following alignment values:
Byte – 8 bits
Word – 16 bits
Double Word – 32 bits
Quad Word – 64 bits
Octa Word – 128 bits
| Scalar Type | C Data Type | Storage Size (in bytes) | Recommended Alignment |
| INT8 | char |
1 | Byte |
| UINT8 | unsigned char |
1 | Byte |
| INT16 | short | 2 | Word |
| UINT16 | unsigned short | 2 | Word |
| INT32 | int, long | 4 | Doubleword |
| UINT32 | unsigned int, unsigned long | 4 | Doubleword |
| INT64 | __int64 |
8 | Quadword |
| UINT64 | unsigned __int64 | 8 | Quadword |
| FP32 (single precision) | float | 4 | Doubleword |
| FP64 (double precision) | double | 8 | Quadword |
| POINTER | * | 8 | Quadword |
__m64 |
struct __m64 | 8 | Quadword |
__m128 |
struct __m128 | 16 | Octaword |