Integer overflow

When we work with numbers on a computer, we use something called integers. These are just whole numbers like 1, 2, 3, and so on. However, there is a limit to how big or small these numbers can be, depending on the size of the computer's memory.

When we try to add or subtract really big or really small numbers, sometimes the result can be too big or too small for the computer to handle. This is called an integer overflow.

Think of it like a bucket that can only hold a certain amount of water. If we try to pour more water into the bucket than it can hold, the water overflows and spills out. In the same way, an integer overflow happens when we try to store a number that is too big or small for the computer to handle, and the number "overflows" and causes errors in our program.

For example, let's say we have a program that counts how many people use a website. If the program uses an integer that can only hold numbers up to 100, and 101 people visit the website, the integer will overflow and the program might not count any of the visitors at all.

To avoid integer overflow, programmers need to be careful when working with very large or very small numbers. They may need to use bigger data types or divide up calculations into smaller pieces to avoid hitting the maximum limit of the integer data type.