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DATATYPE IN JAVA

What Is DataType?

A data type or simply type is a classification identifying one of various types of data, such as real, integer or Boolean, that determines the possible values for that type.

Java programming language is statically-typed, which means that all variables must first be declared before they can be used. This involves stating the variable's type and name.

Kinds Of DataType

Java programming language supports two basic data types:

Primitive: It refers to simple values, not objects.

Class: It is used to create objects.

Primitive Type Categoty

• Integers: It includes byte, short, int, and long, which are for whole-valued signed numbers.
• Floating-point numbers: It includes float and double, which represent numbers with fractional precision.
• Characters: It includes char, which represents symbols in a character set, like letters and numbers.
• Boolean:It includes boolean, which is a special type for representing true/false values.

byte

The smallest integer type is byte. It has a minimum value of −128 and a maximum value of 127 (inclusive). The byte data type can be useful for saving memory in large arrays, where the memory savings actually matters. Byte variables are declared by use of the byte keyword. For example, the following declares and initialize byte variables called b:

byte b =100;

short

The short data type is a 16-bit signed two's complement integer. It has a minimum value of −32,768 and a maximum value of 32,767 (inclusive). As with byte, the same guidelines apply: you can use a short to save memory in large arrays, in situations where the memory savings actually matters. Following example declares and initialize short variable called s:

short s =123;

int

The most commonly used integer type is int. It is a signed 32-bit type that has a range from −2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. In addition to other uses, variables of type int are commonly employed to control loops and to index arrays. This data type will most likely be large enough for the numbers your program will use, but if you need a wider range of values, use long instead.

int  v = 123543;

int  calc = -9876345;

long

long is a signed 64-bit type and is useful for those occasions where an int type is not large enough to hold the desired value. It has a minimum value of -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 and a maximum value of 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 (inclusive). Use of this data type might be in banking application when large amount is to be calculated and stored.

long amountVal = 1234567891;

float

Floating-point numbers, also known as real numbers, are used when evaluating expressions that require fractional precision. For example interest rate calculation or calculating square root. The float data type is a single-precision 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point. As with the recommendations for byte and short, use a float (instead of double) if you need to save memory in large arrays of floating point numbers. The type float specifies a single-precision value that uses 32 bits of storage. Single precision is faster on some processors and takes half as much space as double precision. The declaration and initialization syntax for float variables given below, please note f after value initialization.

float intrestRate = 12.25f;

double

Double precision, as denoted by the double keyword, uses 64 bits to store a value. Double precision is actually faster than single precision on some modern processors that have been optimized for high-speed mathematical calculations. All transcendental math functions, such as sin( ), cos( ), and sqrt( ), return double values. The declaration and initialization syntax for double variables given below, please note d after value initialization.

double sineVal = 12345.234d;

boolean

The boolean data type has only two possible values: true and false. Use this data type for simple flags that track true/false conditions. This is the type returned by all relational operators, as in the case of a < b. boolean is also the type required by the conditional expressions that govern the control statements such as if or while.

boolean  flag = true;

booleanval  = false;

char

In Java, the data type used to store characters is char. The char data type is a single 16-bit Unicode character. It has a minimum value of '\u0000' (or 0) and a maximum value of '\uffff' (or 65,535 inclusive). There are no negative chars.

char ch1 = 88; // code for X

char  ch2 = 'Y';

Primitive Variables can be of two types

(1) Class level (instance) variable:

(2) Method local variable:

It is not mandatory to initialize Class level (instance) variable. If we do not initialize instance variable compiler will assign default value to it. Generally speaking, this default will be zero or null, depending on the data type. Relying on such default values, however, is generally considered bad coding practice.The following chart summarizes the default values for the above data types.

(2) Method local variable:

Method local variables have to be initialized before using it. The compiler never assigns a default value to an un-initialized local variable. If you cannot initialize your local variable where it is declared, make sure to assign it a value before you attempt to use it. Accessing an un-initialized local variable will result in a compile-time error.

  


class DataTypeDemo {

	public static void main(String[] args) {

		byte b =200;

		short s =112;

		int no = 12223;

		int calc = -7826345;

		long lng = 1234567891;

		float flt = 25.29f;

		double sineVal = 98998.222d;

		boolean flag = true;

		boolean val = false;

		char ch1 = 88; // code for X

		char ch2 = 'Y';



		System.out.println("byte Value = "+ b);

		System.out.println("short Value = "+ s);

		System.out.println("int Value = "+ no);

		System.out.println("int second Value = "+ calc);

		System.out.println("long Value = "+ lng);

		System.out.println("float Value = "+ flt);

		System.out.println("double Value = "+ sineVal);

		System.out.println("boolean Value = "+ flag);

		System.out.println("boolean Value = "+ val);

		System.out.println("char Value = "+ ch1);

		System.out.println("char Value = "+ ch2);

	}

}

Summary of Data Types

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