Difference between int, Int16, Int32 and Int64

Understand the differences between int, Int16, Int32, and Int64 in C#, including their size, range, and when to use each type.

Overview of Integer Types

C# provides several integer types of varying sizes to let developers choose the most memory-efficient option for their data. int, Int16, Int32, and Int64 are among the most commonly used.

int and Int32

The int keyword is simply an alias for System.Int32 in C#. Both represent a 32-bit signed integer with a range of approximately -2.1 billion to 2.1 billion, making it the default choice for most whole numbers.

Int16 (short)

Int16, aliased as short, is a 16-bit signed integer with a much smaller range of -32,768 to 32,767. It's useful when memory efficiency matters and values are guaranteed to stay within that smaller range.

Int64 (long)

Int64, aliased as long, is a 64-bit signed integer capable of holding extremely large values, making it suitable for scenarios like timestamps, file sizes, or large counters that exceed Int32's range.