long vs. int

suggest change

In Python 2, any integer larger than a C ssize_t would be converted into the long data type, indicated by an L suffix on the literal. For example, on a 32 bit build of Python:

>>> 2**31
2147483648L
>>> type(2**31)
<type 'long'>
>>> 2**30
1073741824
>>> type(2**30)
<type 'int'>
>>> 2**31 - 1  # 2**31 is long and long - int is long
2147483647L

However, in Python 3, the long data type was removed; no matter how big the integer is, it will be an int.

2**1024
# Output: 179769313486231590772930519078902473361797697894230657273430081157732675805500963132708477322407536021120113879871393357658789768814416622492847430639474124377767893424865485276302219601246094119453082952085005768838150682342462881473913110540827237163350510684586298239947245938479716304835356329624224137216
print(-(2**1024))
# Output: -179769313486231590772930519078902473361797697894230657273430081157732675805500963132708477322407536021120113879871393357658789768814416622492847430639474124377767893424865485276302219601246094119453082952085005768838150682342462881473913110540827237163350510684586298239947245938479716304835356329624224137216
type(2**1024)
# Output: <class 'int'>

Found a mistake? Have a question or improvement idea? Let me know.

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