# std::numeric_limits::lowest

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< cpp‎ | types‎ | numeric limits

static constexpr T lowest() |  | (since C++11)

Returns the lowest finite value representable by the numeric type `T`, that is, a finite value `x` such that there is no other finite value `y` where `y < x`. This is different from std::numeric_limits<T>::min() for floating-point types. Only meaningful for bounded types.

### Return value

`T` | std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest()
/* non-specialized */ | `T();`
bool | false
char | CHAR_MIN
signed char | SCHAR_MIN
unsigned char | ​0​
wchar_t | WCHAR_MIN
char16_t | ​0​
char32_t | ​0​
short | SHRT_MIN
unsigned short | ​0​
int | INT_MIN
unsigned int | ​0​
long | LONG_MIN
unsigned long | ​0​
long long | LLONG_MIN
unsigned long long | ​0​
float | -FLT_MAX
double | -DBL_MAX
long double | -LDBL_MAX

### Notes

While it's not true for fundamental C++ floating-poing types, a third-party floating-point type `T` may exist such that std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest() != -std::numeric_limits<T>::max().

### Exceptions

(none) | (until C++11)
`noexcept` specification: noexcept | (since C++11)

### Example

Demonstrates min, max, and lowest for floating-point types

Run this code

    #include <limits>
    #include <iostream>
    int main()
    {

        std::cout << "std::numeric_limits<T>::min():\n"
                  << "\tfloat: " << std::numeric_limits<float>::min()
                  << " or " << std::hexfloat << std::numeric_limits<float>::min() << '\n'
                  << "\tdouble: " << std::defaultfloat << std::numeric_limits<double>::min()
                  << " or " << std::hexfloat << std::numeric_limits<double>::min() << '\n';
        std::cout << "std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest():\n"
                  << "\tfloat: " << std::defaultfloat << std::numeric_limits<float>::lowest()
                  << " or " << std::hexfloat << std::numeric_limits<float>::lowest() << '\n'
                  << "\tdouble: " << std::defaultfloat << std::numeric_limits<double>::lowest()
                  << " or " << std::hexfloat << std::numeric_limits<double>::lowest() << '\n';
        std::cout << "std::numeric_limits<T>::max():\n"
                  << "\tfloat: " << std::defaultfloat << std::numeric_limits<float>::max()
                  << " or " << std::hexfloat << std::numeric_limits<float>::max() << '\n'
                  << "\tdouble: " << std::defaultfloat << std::numeric_limits<double>::max()
                  << " or " << std::hexfloat << std::numeric_limits<double>::max() << '\n';
    }

Output:

    std::numeric_limits<T>::min():
            float: 1.17549e-38 or 0x1p-126
            double: 2.22507e-308 or 0x1p-1022
    std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest():
            float: -3.40282e+38 or -0x1.fffffep+127
            double: -1.79769e+308 or -0x1.fffffffffffffp+1023
    std::numeric_limits<T>::max():
            float: 3.40282e+38 or 0x1.fffffep+127
            double: 1.79769e+308 or 0x1.fffffffffffffp+1023

### See also

min [static] | returns the smallest finite value of the given type (public static member function)
denorm_min [static] | returns the smallest positive subnormal value of the given floating-point type (public static member function)
max [static] | returns the largest finite value of the given type (public static member function)

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