__builtin_inf() functions of GCC compiler

Last Updated : 02 Sep, 2021

These functions do not need to include any header file to use them. So it provides faster usage, as these are Built-in functions of GCC compiler which is most used compiler, even in competitive programming.

Note: If the compiler shows warning of overflow, use casting before __builtin_inf() function as

(data_type)__builtin_inf()

1. __builtin_inf(void): This function returns positive infinity which will then be converted to DBL_MAX of C language limits.h header file Macro. Its return data type is double.

Example:

if __builtin_inf() is used
it returns infinite

Output: inf

Here is a C++ program that shows the use of this function:

C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // infinite value (<b>inf</b>)
    double double_inf = __builtin_inf();

    cout << double_inf << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output:

inf

2. __builtin_infd32(void): This function returns maximum value of 4-byte integer and returns data type is 32-bit integer.

Example:

if __builtin_infd32() is used
it returns the maximum value of
the 32-bit integer

Output: 2147483647

Here is a C++ program which shows the use of this function:

C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // function returns highest signed integer value
    int int_inf = (int)__builtin_infd32();

    // you can use __builtin_inf() function
    // as well and then cast to integer
    int int_inf2 = (int)__builtin_inf();

    cout << int_inf << endl;
    cout << int_inf2 << endl;

    // function returns highest unsigned integer value
    unsigned int unsinged_int_inf
        = (unsigned int)__builtin_infd32();

    // you can use __builtin_inf() function as well
    // and then cast to unsigned integer
    unsigned int unsinged_int_inf2
        = (unsigned int)__builtin_inf();

    cout << unsinged_int_inf << endl;
    cout << unsinged_int_inf2 << endl;

    return 0;
}

Output:

3. __builtin_infd64(void): This function returns Highest value that can be represented by 8 byte integer which is highest value of integer we can use in C++.

Example:

if __builtin_infd64() is used
it returns the maximum value of
the 64-bit integer

Output: 9223372036854775807

Here is a C++ program which shows the use of this function:

C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // highest signed 8 byte value
    long long int long_inf = (long long int)__builtin_infd64();

    // you can use __builtin_inf() as well
    // and then cast to long long int
    long long int long_inf2
        = (long long int)__builtin_inf();

    cout << long_inf << endl;
    cout << long_inf2 << endl;

    // highest unsigned 8 byte value
    unsigned long long int unsigned_longlong_inf
        = (unsigned long long int)__builtin_infd64();

    // you can use __builtin_inf() as well
    // and then cast to unsigned long long int
    unsigned long long int unsigned_longlong_inf2
        = (unsigned long long int)__builtin_inf();

    cout << unsigned_longlong_inf << endl;
    cout << unsigned_longlong_inf2 << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output:

9223372036854775807
9223372036854775807
18446744073709551615
18446744073709551615

4. __builtin_infd128(void): As the maximum size that can be used for integer is 64-bit in C/C++, this function give the same result as __builtin_infd64().

Example:

if __builtin_infd128() is used
it returns the maximum value of
the 64-bit integer

Output: 9223372036854775807

5. __builtin_inff(void): This function returns float maximum value means 4-byte maximum decimal point value.

Example:

if __builtin_inff() is used
it returns the maximum value of
the 32-bit float

Output: inf

Here is a C++ program which shows the use of this function:

C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    float float_inf = __builtin_inff();

    // you can use __builtin_inf() as well
    // and then cast it to float data type
    float float_inf2 = (float)__builtin_inf();

    cout << float_inf << endl;
    cout << float_inf2 << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output:

inf
inf

6. __builtin_infl(void): This function returns maximum long double data type value.

Example:

if __builtin_infl() is used
it returns the maximum value of
the long double type

Output: inf

Here is a C++ program which shows the use of this function:

C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    long double long_double_inf = __builtin_infl();

    // you can use __builtin_inf() as well
    // and then cast it to float data type
    long double long_double_inf2
        = (long double)__builtin_inf();

    cout << long_double_inf << endl;
    cout << long_double_inf2 << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output:

inf
inf

7. In the recent versions of GCC compiler, these are two new functions: __builtin_infn(void) & __builtin_infnx(void). One can replace n with 32 or 64 and it will return inf value respectively of 32-bit, 64-bit.

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