How do I detect unsigned integer overflow?

I see you’re using unsigned integers. By definition, in C (I don’t know about C++), unsigned arithmetic does not overflow … so, at least for C, your point is moot 🙂

With signed integers, once there has been overflow, undefined behaviour (UB) has occurred and your program can do anything (for example: render tests inconclusive). 

#include <limits.h>

int a = <something>;
int x = <something>;
a += x;              /* UB */
if (a < 0) {         /* Unreliable test */
  /* ... */
}

To create a conforming program, you need to test for overflow before generating said overflow. The method can be used with unsigned integers too:

// For addition
#include <limits.h>

int a = <something>;
int x = <something>;
if (x > 0 && a > INT_MAX - x) // `a + x` would overflow
if (x < 0 && a < INT_MIN - x) // `a + x` would underflow

// For subtraction
#include <limits.h>
int a = <something>;
int x = <something>;
if (x < 0 && a > INT_MAX + x) // `a - x` would overflow
if (x > 0 && a < INT_MIN + x) // `a - x` would underflow

// For multiplication
#include <limits.h>

int a = <something>;
int x = <something>;
// There may be a need to check for -1 for two's complement machines.
// If one number is -1 and another is INT_MIN, multiplying them we get abs(INT_MIN) which is 1 higher than INT_MAX
if (a == -1 && x == INT_MIN) // `a * x` can overflow
if (x == -1 && a == INT_MIN) // `a * x` (or `a / x`) can overflow
// general case
if (x != 0 && a > INT_MAX / x) // `a * x` would overflow
if (x != 0 && a < INT_MIN / x) // `a * x` would underflow

For division (except for the INT_MIN and -1 special case), there isn’t any possibility of going over INT_MIN or INT_MAX.

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