How to Store Currency Values in C Accurately and Efficiently?

Storing Currency Values in C : A Precise and Efficient Approach

To accurately represent monetary values in C , a direct floating-point storage is unsuitable due to rounding errors. Therefore, it becomes crucial to explore alternative methods for storing currency data.

Exploring Existing Libraries

While the Boost library provides various utilities, it does not explicitly address currency storage. Similarly, the concept of BigInteger found in Java lacks an equivalent in C .

Custom Implementation

Creating a dedicated Money class is a viable option, but it necessitates the development and testing of specific code. To avoid re-inventing the wheel, it's prudent to consider established practices in the language.

Recommended Approach

An effective approach involves storing currency amounts as integers with additional significant digits. For instance, $12.45 would be represented as 124,500, allowing for potential changes in policies or regulations.

Integer Storage Types

A signed 32-bit integer can handle amounts up to $200,000. For larger or more precise values, a signed 64-bit integer is appropriate.

Class Encapsulation

To enhance convenience and maintain currency metadata, consider wrapping these integer values within a class. This class would provide methods for creating, manipulating, and formatting currency amounts, offering a concise and efficient solution for currency handling in C .

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