There are two data types available in Java:
- Primitive Data Types
- Reference/Object Data Types
Primitive Data Types:
There are eight primitive data types supported by Java. Primitive data types are predefined by the language and named by a key word. Let us now look into detail about the eight primitive data types.byte:
- Byte data type is a 8-bit signed two's complement integer.
- Minimum value is -128 (-2^7)
- Maximum value is 127 (inclusive)(2^7 -1)
- Default value is 0
- Byte data type is used to save space in large arrays, mainly in place of integers, since a byte is four times smaller than an int.
- Example : byte a = 100 , byte b = -50
short:
- Short data type is a 16-bit signed two's complement integer.
- Minimum value is -32,768 (-2^15)
- Maximum value is 32,767(inclusive) (2^15 -1)
- Short data type can also be used to save memory as byte data type. A short is 2 times smaller than an int
- Default value is 0.
- Example : short s= 10000 , short r = -20000
int:
- Int data type is a 32-bit signed two's complement integer.
- Minimum value is - 2,147,483,648.(-2^31)
- Maximum value is 2,147,483,647(inclusive).(2^31 -1)
- Int is generally used as the default data type for integral values unless there is a concern about memory.
- The default value is 0.
- Example : int a = 100000, int b = -200000
long:
- Long data type is a 64-bit signed two's complement integer.
- Minimum value is -9,223,372,036,854,775,808.(-2^63)
- Maximum value is 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 (inclusive). (2^63 -1)
- This type is used when a wider range than int is needed.
- Default value is 0L.
- Example : long a = 100000L, int b = -200000L
float:
- Float data type is a single-precision 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point.
- Float is mainly used to save memory in large arrays of floating point numbers.
- Default value is 0.0f.
- Float data type is never used for precise values such as currency.
- Example : float f1 = 234.5f
double:
- double data type is a double-precision 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point.
- This data type is generally used as the default data type for decimal values. generally the default choice.
- Double data type should never be used for precise values such as currency.
- Default value is 0.0d.
- Example : double d1 = 123.4
boolean:
- boolean data type represents one bit of information.
- There are only two possible values : true and false.
- This data type is used for simple flags that track true/false conditions.
- Default value is false.
- Example : boolean one = true
char:
- char data type is a single 16-bit Unicode character.
- Minimum value is '\u0000' (or 0).
- Maximum value is '\uffff' (or 65,535 inclusive).
- Char data type is used to store any character.
- Example . char letterA ='A'
Reference Data Types:
- Reference variables are created using defined constructors of the classes. They are used to access objects. These variables are declared to be of a specific type that cannot be changed. For example, Employee, Puppy etc.
- Class objects, and various type of array variables come under reference data type.
- Default value of any reference variable is null.
- A reference variable can be used to refer to any object of the declared type or any compatible type.
- Example : Animal animal = new Animal("giraffe");