Summary  
This chapter explains how to represent and manipulate individual bits in data using bit fields in structures versus explicit bit masks with bitwise operations.

General domain of usage  
Embedded systems programming

Learn how C works at the bit level. This course explains bitwise operators, masks, flags, shifts, and binary data manipulation, helping you write efficient, low-level, and predictable C code.

Explore how binary numbers underpin C programming, including integer storage, signed vs unsigned types, and two’s complement.

Master the use of bitwise operators and shifting for manipulating binary data in C.

Learn to create, combine, and use bit masks and flags for efficient state encoding and manipulation.

Delve into advanced bit manipulation: packing/unpacking, bit rotations, and using bit fields in C structures.

Bit Fields vs Masks

Bit Fields vs Masks