bitwisetype

Bitwisetype is a programming construct that defines a distinct type whose primary purpose is to participate in bitwise operations on its underlying value. It typically wraps an integral primitive and provides a type-safe interface for manipulating bits, ensuring that only values of the same bitwise-aware type are combined or transformed.

Key characteristics of a bitwisetype include an underlying unsigned integer representation, explicit support for bitwise operators (such as AND, OR, XOR, NOT, and shift operations), and constrained conversions to and from the primitive type. The goal is to prevent accidental mixing of unrelated integers while allowing efficient bit-level manipulation when needed. In practice, bitwisetypes are often used to model flags, bitmasks, or bitfields.

Implementation patterns vary by language. Common approaches include the newtype pattern, where a small wrapper type around an integer defines the bitwise operators, or the use of language-supported flag types (such as enums with explicit bit flags) that automatically enable bitwise operations. Some languages require explicit operator overloads or attributes to opt into bitwise behavior, while others provide built-in support for bitwise flag types. Interoperability with the underlying primitive is typically controlled via explicit conversions or transparent accessors.

Use cases for bitwisetype include representing sets of binary options, feature flags, permission masks, and other domains where compact bit-level encoding is advantageous. Benefits include improved type safety and clearer intent, while drawbacks can involve boilerplate for wrappers and potential complexity when combining different bitwise domains.

See also: bitwise operators, bitmask, bitflags, bitset, type safety.