Question

If I use only unsigned types in ternary operator condition, will these unsigned variables be automatically converted to signed types?

Simple example:

unsigned int prevTickSeconds = 48;
unsigned int currentTickSeconds = 5; 

unsigned int secondsLeft = (currentTickSeconds - prevTickSeconds ) ?
                            currentTickSeconds - prevTickSeconds :
                            60 - prevTickSeconds + currentTickSeconds;  

Will this construction work properly when (currentTickSeconds > prevTickSeconds) as shown in this example? Will type conversion performed automatically for condition in ternary operator, or not?

Answer 1

No, there’s no such conversion, as all types are unsigned int and there will be “underflow”.

NOTE:

60 - prevTickSeconds + currentTickSeconds

will be executed if and only if currentTickSeconds - prevTickSeconds is 0.