C# Language: Changing the First Four Bits in a Byte

Question

In order to utilize a byte to its fullest potential, I\'m attempting to store two unique values into a byte: one in the first four bits and another in the second four bits. How

Answer 1

When I have to do bit-twiddling like this, I make a readonly struct to do it for me. A four-bit integer is called nybble, of course:

struct TwoNybbles
{
    private readonly byte b;
    public byte High { get { return (byte)(b >> 4); } }
    public byte Low { get { return (byte)(b & 0x0F); } {
    public TwoNybbles(byte high, byte low)
    {
        this.b = (byte)((high << 4) | (low & 0x0F));
    }

And then add implicit conversions between TwoNybbles and byte. Now you can just treat any byte as having a High and Low byte without putting all that ugly bit twiddling in your mainline code.