What's the difference between “int” and “int_fast16_t”?

Question

As I understand it, the C specification says that type int is supposed to be the most efficient type on target platform that contains at least 16 bits.

I

Answer 1

int_fast16_t is guaranteed to be the fastest int with a size of at least 16 bits. int has no guarantee of its size except that:

 sizeof(char) = 1 and sizeof(char) <= sizeof(short) <= sizeof(int) <= sizeof(long).

And that it can hold the range of -32767 to +32767.

(7.20.1.3p2) "The typedef name int_fastN_t designates the fastest signed integer type with a width of at least N. The typedef name uint_fastN_t designates the fastest unsigned integer type with a width of at least N."