C++ Data Types
While writing program in any language, you need to use various variables to store
various information. Variables are nothing but reserved memory locations to store
values. This means that when you create a variable you reserve some space in
memory.
You may like to store information of various data types like character, wide character,
integer, floating point, double floating point, boolean etc. Based on the data type of a
variable, the operating system allocates memory and decides what can be stored in
the reserved memory.
Primitive Built-in Types
C++ offers the programmer a rich assortment of built-in as well as user defined data
types. Following table lists down seven basic C++ data types −
Type Keyword
Boolean bool
Character char
Integer int
Floating point float
Double floating point double
Valueless void
Wide character wchar_t
Several of the basic types can be modified using one or more of these type modifiers
−
signed
unsigned
:
unsigned
short
long
The following table shows the variable type, how much memory it takes to store the
value in memory, and what is maximum and minimum value which can be stored in
such type of variables.
Typical Bit
Type Typical Range
Width
char 1byte -127 to 127 or 0 to 255
unsigned char 1byte 0 to 255
signed char 1byte -127 to 127
int 4bytes -2147483648 to 2147483647
unsigned int 4bytes 0 to 4294967295
signed int 4bytes -2147483648 to 2147483647
short int 2bytes -32768 to 32767
unsigned short int 2bytes 0 to 65,535
signed short int 2bytes -32768 to 32767
-9223372036854775808 to
long int 8bytes
9223372036854775807
signed long int 8bytes same as long int
unsigned long int 8bytes 0 to 18446744073709551615
long long int 8bytes -(2^63) to (2^63)-1
unsigned long
8bytes 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615
long int
:
float 4bytes
double 8bytes
long double 12bytes
wchar_t 2 or 4 bytes 1 wide character
The size of variables might be different from those shown in the above table,
depending on the compiler and the computer you are using.
Example
Following is the example, which will produce correct size of various data types on
your computer.
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
cout << "Size of char : " << sizeof(char) << endl;
cout << "Size of int : " << sizeof(int) << endl;
cout << "Size of short int : " << sizeof(short int) << endl;
cout << "Size of long int : " << sizeof(long int) << endl;
cout << "Size of float : " << sizeof(float) << endl;
cout << "Size of double : " << sizeof(double) << endl;
cout << "Size of wchar_t : " << sizeof(wchar_t) << endl;
return 0;
}
This example uses endl, which inserts a new-line character after every line and <<
operator is being used to pass multiple values out to the screen. We are also using
:
sizeof() operator to get size of various data types.
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result
which can vary from machine to machine −
Size of char : 1
Size of int : 4
Size of short int : 2
Size of long int : 4
Size of float : 4
Size of double : 8
Size of wchar_t : 4
Example
Following is another example:
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
#include <limits>
using namespace std;
int main() {
std::cout << "Int Min " << std::numeric_limits<int>::min() <<
endl;
std::cout << "Int Max " << std::numeric_limits<int>::max() <<
endl;
std::cout << "Unsigned Int Min " <<
std::numeric_limits<unsigned int>::min() << endl;
std::cout << "Unsigned Int Max " << std::numeric_limits<unsigned
int>::max() << endl;
std::cout << "Long Int Min " << std::numeric_limits<long
:
int>::min() << endl;
std::cout << "Long Int Max " << std::numeric_limits<long
int>::max() << endl;
std::cout << "Unsigned Long Int Min " <<
std::numeric_limits<unsigned long int>::min() <<endl;
std::cout << "Unsigned Long Int Max " <<
std::numeric_limits<unsigned long int>::max() << endl;
Derived Data Types
Data types which are obtained from pre-defined data types in C++ are known as
Derived Data Types. These can be classified into four categories, namely −
1. Function
A function is the simplest form of user-defined data type. It includes a return type, a
function name and input parameters.
Syntax
return_type function_name(input_param1, input_param2…){
<function_body>
}
Example
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
:
using namespace std;
string func(int n){
//returns if n is odd or even
if(n%2) return "Given number is Odd !";
else return "Given number is Even !";
}
int main(){
int a;
//enter a number
cin>>a;
cout<<func(a);
//a simple function to check if
//number is odd or even
return 0;
}
Output
Given number is Even !
2. Array
An array is a series of elements of same data type. Elements of an array are stored
in contiguous memory locations in the storage.
Syntax
data_type array_name[array_size];
Example
:
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main(){
int arr[5]={1,2,3,2,1};
//define an integer array of size 5
for(auto it:arr)
cout<<it<<" ";
//print the elements of array
return 0;
}
Output
12321
3. Pointer
A pointer is a reference to an element defined previously. The value of the pointer
returns the address location of the element which is associated with it.
Syntax
data_type * pointer_name=& variable_name;
Example
:
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int a=20;
//declare variable a
int *p= &a;
//assign pointer to a
cout<<"Address of variable a: "<<p<<endl;
cout<<"Value of variable a: "<<*p<<endl;
return 0;
}
Output
Address of variable a: 0x7ffc49a8637c
Value of variable a: 20
4. Reference
A reference variable is used to create a copy of a variable with the same reference.
Hence, changes made to the reference variable also reflect on the original variable.
Syntax
data_type & reference_name= variable_name;
Example
:
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main(){
int c=11;
int& refer=c;
cout<<"Initially value of integer is: "<<c<<endl;
refer=121;
cout<<"After changing value using refer variable :"<<c<<endl;
return 0;
}
Output
Initially value of integer is: 11
After changing value using refer variable :121
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User-Defined Data Types
Data types which are defined by the user intuitively without using any pre-defined
data types are known as User-Defined Data Types. These data types can be further
categorized into five types, namely −
1. Class
:
A class is a defined in Object Oriented Programming as a custom data type which is
used to construct an object. It is the framework of an object, and it can include
constructors, methods and OOP concepts like Polymorphism, Inheritance, etc.
Syntax
class Class_name{
<class body>
class_name(parameters) {
<constructor body>
}
return_type method_name(paremeters){
<method body>
}
Example
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class TP{
public:
string tp;
void print(){
cout<<tp<<endl;
}
:
};
int main(){
TP object;
object.tp="I Love Tutorialspoint !!!";
object.print();
return 0;
}
Output
I Love Tutorialspoint !!!
2. Structure (struct)
In structure data type, the user can introduce multiple primitive data types inside
the struct body.
Syntax
struct struct_name{
data_type1 var_name1;
data_type2 var_name2;
…
}
Example
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
:
using namespace std;
struct TP{
string tp;
int grade;
};
int main(){
TP object;
object.tp="I Love Tutorialspoint !!!";
object.grade=10;
cout<<object.tp<<endl;
cout<<"How much would you rate it?"<<" : "<< object.grade;
return 0;
}
Output
I Love Tutorialspoint !!!
How much would you rate it? : 10
3. Union
Union is similar to a structure. In this, the memory location of all variables is same,
and all variables share the same reference. Hence, a change in one value leads to all
other values getting changed.
Syntax
union union_name{
data_type var_name1;
data_type var_name2;
:
};
Example
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
union TP{
int tp1,tp2;
};
int main(){
union TP t;
t.tp1=2;
cout<<"Value of tp1 initially: "<<t.tp1<<endl;
t.tp2=4;
cout<<"When we change tp2, value of tp1 is : "<<t.tp1<<endl;
return 0;
}
Output
Value of tp1 initially: 2
When we change tp2, value of tp1 is : 4
4. Enumeration (Enum)
Enumeration or simply enum is a user-defined data type that is used to give name to
integer constants in a program. This increases the user-readability of a program.
:
Syntax
enum enum_name{
var¬_name1 , var_name2, …
}
Example
Open Compiler
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
enum TP{ C, Java, Python, Ruby, Kotlin, Javascript, TypeScript,
Others};
int main(){
enum TP course;
cout<<"Which course do you love the most?"<<endl;
course=Kotlin;
cout<<"I love the "<<course+1<<"th course !!!";
return 0;
}
Output
Which course do you love the most?
I love the 5th course !!!
:
typedef Declarations
You can create a new name for an existing type using typedef. Following is the
simple syntax to define a new type using typedef −
typedef type newname;
For example, the following tells the compiler that feet is another name for int −
typedef int feet;
Now, the following declaration is perfectly legal and creates an integer variable called
distance −
feet distance;
Enumerated Types
An enumerated type declares an optional type name and a set of zero or more
identifiers that can be used as values of the type. Each enumerator is a constant
whose type is the enumeration.
Creating an enumeration requires the use of the keyword enum. The general form
of an enumeration type is −
enum enum-name { list of names } var-list;
Here, the enum-name is the enumeration's type name. The list of names is comma
separated.
For example, the following code defines an enumeration of colors called colors and
the variable c of type color. Finally, c is assigned the value "blue".
:
enum color { red, green, blue } c;
c = blue;
By default, the value of the first name is 0, the second name has the value 1, and
the third has the value 2, and so on. But you can give a name, a specific value by
adding an initializer. For example, in the following enumeration, green will have the
value 5.
enum color { red, green = 5, blue };
Here, blue will have a value of 6 because each name will be one greater than the
one that precedes it.
:
