Float to int casts for data compression

2023/07/27

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The article discusses different methods of converting float data to integer for data compression purposes. The author explains that when working with float data in compression, it is often necessary to reinterpret the bits as an integer in order to perform operations like deltas in a lossless or quantized manner.

The article presents several mappings for float to int casts. The first method mentioned is "just_cast," which simply reinterprets the float as a uint32. This method is lossless and reversible.

Another method discussed is "lossless_fix_negatives," which changes the sign bit of the float to two's complement. This method is also lossless and preserves the float's equality comparisons.

The article also introduces a method called "fix_negatives_lossyzeronan," which fixes negatives in a non-bit preserving (lossy) manner. This method maps float 0.f and -0.f to 0, and all NaN values to 0x80000000U.

The author emphasizes the importance of reducing precision around 0.f for better compression, as the space between -1.f and +1.f is half of the entire number space.

Overall, the article provides developers with insights into different float to int casting methods for data compression, allowing them to make informed decisions based on their specific requirements.