Why Does C# Have Literal Modifiers for `long` and `unsigned`, but Not for `short`?

Literal Modifiers in C#

C# provides literal modifiers for certain data types, such as "long int," but not for others, such as "short int." This inconsistency can leave developers wondering why some types have these modifiers while others do not.

Justification for Long and Unsigned Modifiers

The literal modifiers for "long" and "unsigned" types exist because:

• Most arithmetic calculations in C# involve 32-bit integers. "long" allows for efficient representation of larger numbers.
• Interoperability and bit field scenarios often require unsigned integers.

Thus, concise suffixes for "long" and "unsigned" clarify the intended usage of literals in these cases.

Absence of Short Modifier

In contrast, "short" does not have a literal modifier because:

• "short" can always be replaced with "int" in legal contexts.
• C# does not perform arithmetic on "short" types. Short values promote to "int" for arithmetic operations.

The absence of a "short" modifier is not an indication of any design flaw. Rather, it is a deliberate decision based on the fact that there is no compelling benefit for such a modifier in the context of C#'s type system and arithmetic operations.

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