INT64MAX

INT64MAX is a constant often found in programming languages and libraries that represent the largest possible value for a signed 64-bit integer. A signed 64-bit integer is a data type used to store whole numbers, both positive and negative, that can range up to a certain limit. The "64" in 64-bit refers to the number of binary digits (bits) used to represent the number.

A signed integer uses one of its bits, typically the most significant bit, to indicate the sign of the number. This means that half of the possible values are used for positive numbers and the other half for negative numbers, including zero. Consequently, a signed 64-bit integer can represent values from -2^63 to 2^63 - 1.

INT64MAX specifically represents the upper bound of this range, which is 2^63 - 1. In decimal form, this value is 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. This large value makes it suitable for storing a wide variety of data, such as timestamps, large counts, or financial figures, where precision and a broad range are required. When dealing with integer overflow, it is crucial to be aware of INT64MAX to prevent unexpected behavior or data corruption. Many programming languages provide this constant directly, often within a system or integer-specific library, to simplify its usage.