`BitVector32`

This .NET type provides bit-level abstractions. It occupies 32 bits of memory. It provides methods that let you create masks and set and get bits.

Type notes

It is possible to use BitVector32 as an optimized group of 32 boolean values. This type can result in confusing code.

This program first creates an array of masks. The BitVector32 type provides the CreateMask method for this purpose. It is possible to compute these masks in other ways.

Info The masks array is used to assign true or false to specific bits. Only 32 bits, indexed from 0 to 31, can be set or get.

Result The for-loop prints out the values of the bits as 1 or 0. The first, second and last bits were set to true.

Tip BitVector32 is an abstraction of readily available bitwise operators. You can use bitwise operators to duplicate the effects.

using System;
using System.Collections.Specialized;

class Program
{
    static int[] _masks; // Holds 32 masks.

    public static void Main()
    {
        // Initialize masks.
        _masks = new int[32];
        {
            _masks[0] = BitVector32.CreateMask();
        }
        for (int i = 1; i < 32; i++)
        {
            _masks[i] = BitVector32.CreateMask(_masks[i - 1]);
        }

        // Address single bits.
        BitVector32 v = new BitVector32();
        v[_masks[0]] = true;
        v[_masks[1]] = true;
        v[_masks[31]] = true;

        // Write bits.
        for (int i = 0; i < 32; i++)
        {
            Console.Write(v[_masks[i]] == true ? 1 : 0);
        }
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
}
11000000000000000000000000000001

Performance

BitVector32 could improve performance in certain programs. It can replace a bool array. Every 32 booleans could be changed to one BitVector32.

Info This means 32 booleans requiring 32 bytes of memory become one BitVector requiring 4 bytes.

using System;
using System.Collections.Specialized;

class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        {
            Console.WriteLine(sizeof(bool));
        }
        unsafe
        {
            Console.WriteLine(sizeof(BitVector32));
        }
    }
}1
4

BitVector32 provides bitwise functionality. It is an abstract data type for bitwise operators upon on a 32-bit integer. It can reduce memory usage of certain programs.