[java] Can we make unsigned byte in Java

Complete guide for working with unsigned bytes in Java:

Unsigned byte in Java

(Source for this answer.)

The Java Language does not provide anything like the unsigned keyword. A byte according to the language spec represents a value between -128 - 127. For instance, if a byte is cast to an int Java will interpret the first bit as the sign and use sign extension.

That being said, nothing prevents you from viewing a byte simply as 8 bits and interpret those bits as a value between 0 and 255. Just keep in mind that there's nothing you can do to force your interpretation upon someone else's method. If a method accepts a byte, then that method accepts a value between -128 and 127 unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Here are a couple of useful conversions / manipulations for your convenience:

Conversions to / from int

// From int to unsigned byte
int i = 200;                    // some value between 0 and 255
byte b = (byte) i;              // 8 bits representing that value

// From unsigned byte to int
byte b = 123;                   // 8 bits representing a value between 0 and 255
int i = b & 0xFF;               // an int representing the same value

(Or, if you're on Java 8+, use Byte.toUnsignedInt.)

Parsing / formatting

Best way is to use the above conversions:

// Parse an unsigned byte
byte b = (byte) Integer.parseInt("200");

// Print an unsigned byte
System.out.println("Value of my unsigned byte: " + (b & 0xFF));

Arithmetics

The 2-complement representation "just works" for addition, subtraction and multiplication:

// two unsigned bytes
byte b1 = (byte) 200;
byte b2 = (byte) 15;

byte sum  = (byte) (b1 + b2);  // 215
byte diff = (byte) (b1 - b2);  // 185
byte prod = (byte) (b2 * b2);  // 225

Division requires manual conversion of operands:

byte ratio = (byte) ((b1 & 0xFF) / (b2 & 0xFF));