title: Unsigned Bytes in Java
body: <p>Bytes in Java are signed by default. I see on other posts that a workaround to have unsigned bytes is something similar to that: <code>int num = (int) bite &amp; 0xFF</code></p>
  
  <p>Could someone please explain to me why this works and converts a signed byte to an unsigned byte and then its respective integer? <code>ANDing</code> a byte with 11111111 results in the same byte - right?</p>