How to extract specific bits from a number in C?

Question

I need to extract specific part (no of bits) of a short data type in C.

For Example I have a binary of 52504 as 11001101000 11000 and I want First 6 (

Answer 1

unsigned int extract_n2mbits(unsigned int x, int n, int m)
{
unsigned int mask, tmp;
if (n < m) {
    n = n + m;
    m = n - m;
    n = n - m;
}
mask = 1 << (n - m + 1);
tmp = m;
while (tmp > 1) {
    mask = mask << 1 | 1 << (n - m + 1);
    tmp = tmp - 1;
}
return ((x & mask) >> (n - m + 1));
}

Answer 2

//To get value from specific position 'pos' to 'pos+offset' in number 'value'

#define bitGet(value, offset, pos) (((1ull << offset) - 1) & (value >> (pos - 1)))

//Set value 'newval' from position 'pos' to 'pos+offset' in number 'value'

#define bitSet(value, offset, pos, newval)  \
(~(((1ull << offset) - 1) << (pos - 1)) & value) | ((((1ull << offset) - 1) & newval) << (pos - 1))

Answer 3

void  f(short int last, short int first, short int myNr){
      //construct mask for last bits
      short int mask=0;
      for(int i=0;i<last;i++)
       { mask+=1;
        mask<<1;}
      short int aux= myNr;
      aux=aux&mask; // only last bits are left
      //construct mask for first bits
      mask=0;
      for(int i=0;i<first;i++)
       { mask+=0x8000h;
        mask>>1;} 
      aux=myNr;  
      aux&=mask;
      aux>>last; // only first bits are left and shifted
}

you can add parameters to get the values out or something

Answer 4

unsigned short extract(unsigned short value, int begin, int end)
{
    unsigned short mask = (1 << (end - begin)) - 1;
    return (value >> begin) & mask;
}

Note that [begin, end) is a half open interval.

Answer 5

Although its a very old question, I would like to add a different solution. Using macros,

/* Here, startBit : start bit position(count from LSB) endBit : end bit position(count from LSB) .NOTE: endBit>startBit number : the number from which to extract bits maxLength:the total bit size of number. */ `

#include <stdio.h>
#define getnbits(startBit,endBit,number,maxLength) \
  ( number &  ( (~0U >> (maxLength-endBit)) & (~0U << startBit) )  ) 

int main()
{
    unsigned int num=255;
    unsigned int start=1,end=5,size=sizeof(num)*8;

    printf("Inputs : %d %d %d %d \n ",start,end,num,size);
    printf("Input number : %d\n",num);

    if(end>start)
    {
        int result = getnbits(start,end,num,size-1);
        printf("Output : %u\n\n",result);
    }
    else
        printf("Error : EndBit is smaller than starBit!\n\n");

    return 0;
}

`

Output : Inputs : 1 5 255 32
Input number : 255
Output : 62

Here, 255 = 11111111 and 62 = 00111110

Answer 6

// This is the main project file for VC++ application project 
// generated using an Application Wizard.

#include "stdafx.h"

#using <mscorlib.dll>

using namespace System;


void fun2(int *parr)
{
    printf(" size of array is %d\n",sizeof(parr));
}
void fun1(void)
{
    int arr[100];
    printf(" size of array is %d\n",sizeof(arr));
    fun2(arr);
}

int extractBit(int byte, int pos) 
{
    if( !((pos >= 0) && (pos < 16)) )
    {
        return 0;
    }
    return ( ( byte & (1<<pos) ) >> pos);
}
int extractBitRange(int byte, int startingPos, int offset) 
{


   if(  !(((startingPos + offset) >= 0) && ( (startingPos + offset) < 16)) )
   {
        return 0;
   }
   return ( byte >> startingPos ) & ~(0xff << (offset + 1));
}

int _tmain()
{
    // TODO: Please replace the sample code below with your own.

    int value;
    signed int res,bit;
    signed int stPos, len;
    value = 0x1155;
    printf("%x\n",value);
    //Console::WriteLine("Hello World");
    //fun1();
    for(bit=15;bit>=0;bit--)
    {
        res =extractBit(value,bit);
        printf("%d",res);
    }
    stPos = 4;
    len = 5;
    res = extractBitRange(value, stPos, len);
    printf("\n%x",res);

    return 0;
}