Interpreting bit patterns as different types

bit_intrepretations.cpp

#include<iostream> 

using namespace std;

int main() {
  //long x = 1;
  long x = -1;

  // A pointer to the bit pattern, interpreted as a 32-bit signed int
  int* i = (int*) &x;
  cout << "Bit pattern interpreted as a int:\t\t" << *i << endl;

  // A pointer to the bit pattern, interpreted as a 64-bit signed long
  long* l = (long*) &x;
  cout << "Bit pattern interpreted as a long:\t\t" << *l << endl;

  // A pointer to the bit pattern, interpreted as an double
  double* d = (double*) &x;
  //cout.precision(500);
  cout << "Bit pattern interpreted as a double:\t\t" << fixed << *d << endl;

  // A pointer to the bit pattern, interpreted as a 32-bit unsigned int
  unsigned int* u = (unsigned int*) &x;
  cout << "Bit pattern interpreted as an unsigned int:\t" << *u << endl;
}

A demonstration that a value is a bit pattern that we interpret through types. Done in C++ because this is not possible in Java.