ReadInt64

ReadInt64 is a function typically found in programming libraries that handles the deserialization or parsing of a 64-bit signed integer from a given data source. This data source could be a byte stream, a string, or another form of binary data. The function's primary purpose is to interpret a sequence of bytes as a numerical value representing a signed integer that can range from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

The implementation of ReadInt64 often takes into account the endianness of the data. Endianness refers to the order in which bytes are arranged in memory. Big-endian systems store the most significant byte first, while little-endian systems store the least significant byte first. A robust ReadInt64 function will either assume a specific endianness or allow the caller to specify it to ensure correct interpretation. The function usually returns the parsed integer value.

In many contexts, ReadInt64 is used when working with network protocols, file formats, or data serialization formats that store numerical data in a binary representation. It is a fundamental operation for reading structured data and converting it into a usable numerical type within a program. Error handling is also a crucial aspect, as the function should gracefully handle cases where the input data is malformed or does not represent a valid 64-bit signed integer.