What are some examples of unions in C programming?

What are some examples of unions in C programming?

In C, a union allows you to store different data types in the same memory location. For example, you can define a union like this:

union Data {
    int intValue;
    float floatValue;
    char charValue;
};

This union can hold an integer, a float, or a character, but only one at a time.

Can you show me how to use this union in a program?

Sure! Here's a simple program that demonstrates how to use the union:

#include <stdio.h>

union Data {
    int intValue;
    float floatValue;
    char charValue;
};

int main() {
    union Data data;
    data.intValue = 10;
    printf("Integer: %d\n", data.intValue);
    data.floatValue = 220.5;
    printf("Float: %.2f\n", data.floatValue);
    data.charValue = 'A';
    printf("Character: %c\n", data.charValue);
    return 0;
}

This program shows how the union can hold different types of data.

What happens if I try to access a different member after setting one?

Accessing a different member after setting one can lead to unexpected results because a union shares the same memory for all its members. For example, if you set intValue and then access floatValue, the output may not be meaningful. It's important to keep track of which member is currently in use.