Defined in File NetworkitBinaryGraph.hpp
Serializes value into a buffer and returns the number of bytes written. The space required to store an integer x ranges between 1 and 9 bytes.
The first byte (buffer[0]) encodes the number of following data bytes in the position y in [0, 7] of the least significant bit that is asserted. If the header byte is zero (i.e., it contains no asserted bits), exactly y=8 data bytes follow. Possibly remaining bits in the header are used to store the least significant bits of x. The subsequent data bytes store the remainder of x in little endian, i.e. * the eight least significant bits (not stored in the header) are stored in buffer[1], the next higher eight bits in buffer[2] and so on.
Example: x = 0b0GFE’DCBA with G=1 requires 7 bits of storage. Hence it fits completely into the header which is buffer[0] = 0bGFED’CBA|1 where bit 0 encodes that no data bytes follow while bits 1 to 7 store x.
x = 0bHGFE’DCBA with H=1 requires 8 bits of storage. Hence an additional data byte is required:
buffer[0] = 0bFEDC’BA|10 where bits 0 and 1 encode that one data byte will follow buffer[1] = 0b0000’00|HG where bits 0 and 1 encode the remaining two bits of x, and bits 2 to 7 are filled as zeros