How do I count the number of zero bits in an integer?

Question

How would i go about finding the number of \'zero\' bits in C++. Suppose I have an integer;

int value = 276; 

For which I have the bits 100010

Answer 1

By far the most obvious solution is a lookup table.

/* Assuming CHAR_BITS == 8 */
int bitsPerByte[256] = { 8, 7, 7, 6, /* ... */ };
int bitsInByte(unsigned char c) { return bits[c]; }