Setting a byte equal to an int and cout

Question

So I understand that C++ defines a byte as a typedef unsigned char. But I can't fully understand why, after setting a byte variable equal to a int, it couts as a smiley face..

#include <iostream>
#include <Windows.h>
using namespace std;

int main(){
    int x = 1;
    byte y = x;
    cout << y;
}

I'm sure this has a simple explanation, but I can't seem to find it. Is the first character of the unicode OR UTF8 set a smiley face?

`byte` isn't even a valid type within the headers you're showing. Assuming it is what near-everyone defines it (`unsigned char`), you may do well to find how the `std::ostream` insertion operator for that type works. — WhozCraig, Jun 09 '14 at 23:56
`char(1)` is SOH (start of heading) according to ascii table (which is not a printable character). — Jarod42, Jun 09 '14 at 23:56

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 09 '14 at 23:55

You must be using Windows. The character with a code of 1 is the smiley face in Code Page 437, the one used by command windows. Code points 0 through 31 do not correspond to printable characters in Unicode.

Yes, a byte is typically defined as an unsigned char. When you send a char variable (signed or unsigned) to cout, it outputs a character and not a number.

Setting a byte equal to an int and cout

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