32-bit compiler

What does 32 bit indicate in a 32 bit compiler?
so as in 16-bit complier?
has it got to do anything with the size of any datatype

re: 32-bit compiler

You should ask your questions in the C/C++ Forums section, not in the C++
Articles section. I'll move your question for you.

kind regards,

Jos

re: 32-bit compiler

Comoputer chips work in words. A word is the number of bits that can be shifted from memory to a register in the chip in a single clock pulse. A 32-bit chip will have registers that hold 32 bits. A 64-bit chip has 64-bit registers.

Using 64 bit variables in a 32 bit chip means multiple operations for the 32 bit chip and it is therefore slower. But it still works.

Compilers are written for a specific word length so they can generate optimal code. At the C/C++ level, you generally do not need to be concerned about the computer word length. Sometimes. maybe, but not as the general rule.