Difference between size_t and unsigned int?

Question

I am so confused about size_t. I have searched on the internet and everywhere mentioned that size_t is an unsigned type so, it can represent only n

Answer 1

size_t type is a base unsigned integer type of C/C++ language. It is the type of the result returned by sizeof operator. The type's size is chosen so that it could store the maximum size of a theoretically possible array of any type. On a 32-bit system size_t will take 32 bits, on a 64- bit one 64 bits. In other words, a variable of size_t type can safely store a pointer. The exception is pointers to class functions but this is a special case. Although size_t can store a pointer, it is better to use another unsigned integer type uintptr_t for that purpose (its name reflects its capability). The types size_t and uintptr_t are synonyms. size_t type is usually used for loop counters, array indexing and address arithmetic. The maximum possible value of size_t type is constant SIZE_MAX .