Question

void test()
{

    unsigned char c;
    c = (~0)>>1 ;  
    printf("c is %u\n",c); 

}

It prints 255. I was expecting 127 as i was expecting the left most bit to be set to 0 after the right shift. Is this because my compiler is doing Right rotation?

Answer 1

Your compiler is treating ~0 as an int, then shifting, then converting to unsigned char. This program outputs your expected value:

void test()
{
    unsigned char c;
    c = ((unsigned char)(~0)) >> 1 ;  
    printf("c is %u\n",c); 
}