Bothendianness

Bothendianness is a term used in computing to describe the ability to use either big-endian or little-endian byte order for multi-byte values. It can refer to hardware that can operate in more than one endianness (bi-endian or mixed-endian architectures) as well as software that can interpret or convert data on the fly. In practice, the distinction matters when exchanging data between systems, reading binary file formats, or implementing network protocols that specify an endianness.

In hardware, bi-endian processors can switch endianness at runtime or operate in different modes for different contexts. Some ARM and PowerPC implementations support switching endianness, either at system startup or during operation, while others are fixed in a single mode. The ability to switch endianness affects memory layout, performance, and the design of the system’s application binary interface.

In software and data exchange, endianness is commonly handled with explicit conversions when data crosses system boundaries. Network byte order is defined as big-endian; host orders may differ, requiring conversion with standard functions. File formats and network protocols often specify endianness, and software must serialize and deserialize data accordingly to maintain interoperability.

Terminology varies, and bothendianness is not a universally standardized term. It is closely related to the concept of bi-endian or mixed-endian systems and highlights the practical need to handle multiple byte orders in interoperable software and hardware.