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byte()

Converts a Boolean, String, or Number to its byte value.

byte() converts a value to an integer (whole number) between -128 and 127. Values greater than 127 wrap around while negative values are unchanged. For example, 128 becomes -128 and -129 remains the same.

The parameter, n, is the value to convert. If n is a Boolean, as in byte(false) or byte(true), the number 0 (false) or 1 (true) will be returned. If n is a string or number, as in byte('256') or byte(256), then the byte value will be returned. Decimal values are ignored. If an array is passed, as in byte({true, 123, '456'}), then an array of byte values will be returned.

Examples

byte example 1


function setup()
  size(100, 100)

  background(200)
  fill(0)

  -- Create a Boolean variable.
  local original = true

  -- Convert the Boolean to its byte value.
  local converted = byte(original)

  -- Style the text.
  textAlign(CENTER, CENTER)
  textSize(16)

  -- Display the original and converted values.
  -- the boolean must be converted to a string
  text(str(original).." : "..converted, 50, 50)

  describe('The text "true : 1" written in black on a gray background.')
end

byte example 2

function setup()
  size(100, 100)

  background(200)
  fill(0)

  -- Create a string variable.
  local original = '256'

  -- Convert the string to its byte value.
  local converted = byte(original)

  -- Style the text.
  textAlign(CENTER, CENTER)
  textSize(16)

  -- Display the original and converted values.
  text(original..' : '..converted, 50, 50)

  describe('The text "256 : 0" written in black on a gray background.')
end

byte example 3

function setup()
  size(100, 100)

  background(200)
  fill(0)

  -- Create a number variable.
  local original = 256

  -- Convert the number to its byte value.
  local converted = byte(original)

  -- Style the text.
  textAlign(CENTER, CENTER)
  textSize(16)

  -- Display the original and converted values.
  text(original..' : '..converted, 50, 50)

  describe('The text "256 : 0" written in black on a gray background.')
end

byte example 4

function setup()
  size(100, 100)

  background(200)

  -- Create an array of values.
  local original = {false, '64', 383}

  -- Convert the array elements to their byte values.
  local converted = byte(original)

  -- Iterate over the converted array elements.
  for i=1,#converted do

    -- Style the circle.
    fill(converted[i])

    -- Calculate the x-coordinate.
    local x = (i + 1) * 25 - 25

    -- Draw the circle.
    circle(x, 50, 20)
  end

  describe(
    'Three gray circles on a gray background. The circles get lighter from left to right.'
  )
end

Syntax

byte(n)

byte(ns)

Parameters

Parameter
n String/Boolean/Number: value to convert.
ns Ordererd table array: values to convert.

Returns

Number: converted byte value.