Data Types in C: An Overview

Data Types in C are the data values a C program can process. They are the basic building blocks of a C program. It is
something we already saw in the variables in C and keywords in C section. Here, you will get to know about the data types
in detail. Explore this concept further in our comprehensive C Tutorial for Beginners. We are going to look at the wide
variety of data types available in C in this article, as well as their importance and applications. You can also check our C
Certification Course

What are Data Types in C?

Data types in C refer to the various types of data, such as integer and float, that a C program can process. Each type of data
is represented by a specific keyword and is used within a program to perform calculations, represent objects, or store
strings.

• A data type defines how a certain operation will be performed on the data item specified as its arguments such as
an arithmetic operation or a comparison test.

• Data types also determine the amount of memory allocated for storing a particular type of value.

• Data types are essential to C programming since they are necessary to define the items used within any program.

Read More - Top 50 Mostly Asked C Interview Questions and Answers

4 Data Types in C with Examples

There are various types of data types in C, which are:

Types Data Types

Basic Data Type int, char, float, double

Derived Data Type array, pointer, structure, union

Enumeration Data Type enum

Void Data Type void

1. Basic Data Types in C

The fundamental data types in C, such as integers, float, characters, etc., are used to represent simple values and are
known as the "basic data types."

1. int

The int data type is used to store integers (whole numbers) like -1, 0, 42, etc.

Syntax

int variable_name;

Range of Values of int Data Type in C

Data Type Format Specifier Range Memory Size (in bytes)

Int %d -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 4

short int %hd -32,768 to 32,767 2

unsigned short int %hu 0 to 65,535 2

long int %ld -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 4

unsigned long int %lu 0 to 4,294,967,295 4

long long int %lld -(2^63) to (2^63)-1 8

unsigned long long int %llu 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 8

Example of int Data Type in C Compiler

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

// Integer value with positive data.

int a = 9;

// integer value with negative data.

int b = -9;

// U or u is Used for Unsigned int in C.

int c = 89U;

// L or l is used for long int in C.

long int d = 99998L;

printf("Integer value with positive data: %d\n", a);

printf("Integer value with negative data: %d\n", b);

printf("Integer value with an unsigned int data: %u\n",

c);

printf("Integer value with an long int data: %ld", d);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output
Integer value with positive data: 20

Integer value with negative data: -20

Integer value with an unsigned int data: 89

Integer value with an long int data: 99998

Common Usage Scenarios of int Data Type in C

• Counting: Integers are commonly used for counting discrete objects or events. For example, counting the number
of students in a class, the number of days in a week, etc.

• Indexing: Integers are often used as indices to access elements in arrays, lists, or other data structures.

• Mathematical Operations: Integers are used in mathematical calculations such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division.

• Loop Iterations: Integers are frequently used as loop counters in iteration constructs like for loops and while loops.

• Memory Allocation: Integers are used to represent memory addresses, offsets, and sizes.

• Error Codes and Flags: Integers are often used to represent error codes, status flags, and boolean values.

• User Input and Output: Integers are commonly used to represent user input from keyboards, mouse clicks, or
other input devices.

2. char

The char data type is used to store single characters like 'A', '1', or '$'. The character must be surrounded by single quotes
and we must use the %c format specifier to print it.

Syntax

char variable_name;

Example of char Data Type in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

char myLetter = 'S';

printf("%c", myLetter);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

Representing single characters using ASCII values

You can also use ASCII values to display certain characters. Here, these values are not surrounded by quotes (' '), as they
are numbers
Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

char a = 87, b = 66, c = 75;

printf("%c\n", a);

printf("%c\n", b);

printf("%c", c);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

3. float

The float data type is used to store single-precision floating-point numbers, which can represent decimal values with
limited precision. This data type size is 4 bytes, i.e., it occupies 4 bytes of memory. It ranges between +/- 3.4E-38F up until
+/- 1 .7E+308F depending on the system’s architecture.

Syntax

float variable_name;

Example of float Data Type in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

float myNum = 6.85;

printf("%f", myNum);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

6.850000

4. double
The double data type is used to store double-precision floating-point numbers i.e. 64 bits of decimal numbers or floating
points, which offer higher precision than float for decimal values. This data type size is 8 bytes, i.e., it occupies 8 bytes of
memory. It ranges between 1.7E-308 to 1.7E+308.

Syntax

double variable_name;

Example of double Data Type in C Online Compiler

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

double num = 20.63;

printf("%lf", num);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

20.630000

float vs. double

• The precision of a floating point value indicates how many digits the value can have after the decimal point.

• The precision of float is six or seven decimal digits, while double variables have a precision of about 15 digits.

• Therefore, it is recommended to use double for most calculations. However, double takes up twice as much
memory as float (8 bytes vs. 4 bytes).

How to set Decimal Precision in C?

If you want to remove the extra zeros from a floating point number or in other words, set decimal precision, you can use a
dot (.) followed by a number that specifies how many digits should be shown after the decimal point.

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

float floatNum = 7.5;

printf("%f\n", myFloatNum); // Default will show 6 digits after the decimal point

printf("%.1f\n", myFloatNum); // shows 1 digit

printf("%.2f\n", myFloatNum); // shows 2 digits

printf("%.4f", myFloatNum); // shows 4 digits

Run Code >>

Output

7.500000

7.5

7.50

7.5000

5. void

When a function doesn't return a value or a pointer doesn't have a particular data type attached to it, C uses the void data
type to express this. It is commonly used in function declarations as a return type indicating that the function does not
return any values and that it simply performs some task without producing any results.

Syntax

void functionName(parameters) {

// Function code

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

int val = 50;

void* ptr = &val;

printf("%d", *(int*)ptr);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

50

2. Derived Data Types in C

In the C programming language, a derived data type is a data type that is created by combining one or more basic or other
derived data types.

1. Arrays

An array is a group of identically typed elements kept in consecutive memory regions. Multiple values of the same type can
be stored and accessed using a single variable name.

Syntax
data_type array_name[array_size];

Initializing Array in C

There are various ways to do this:

• Initialize at the time of declaration using the “{}”.

int a[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

• Initialize an array without specifying its size at declaration time.

int a[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

Though we haven't specified the size, the compiler understands the size as 5 due to the initialization of 5 elements.

• Initialization by using the index of an element

• int marks[5];

• marks[0]=80; //the index of an array starts with 0.

• marks[1]=60;

• marks[2]=70;

• marks[3]=85;

• marks[4]=75;

There are two types of array in C, which are:

1. Single-dimensional array: It is a collection of elements of the same data type that are stored in a contiguous block
of memory.

2. Multi-dimensional array: It is an array that contains one or more arrays as its elements. We will see this in the
next section multidimensional arrays in C.

For more details on arrays: Arrays in C Programming

2. Pointers

A pointer is a variable that keeps track of another variable's memory address. Pointers are used to indirectly access data by
referencing its location in memory and for dynamic memory allocation.

Syntax

data_type *pointer_name;

Example of Pointers in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main(){

int number=120;

int *p;

p=&number;//stores the address of number variable

printf("Address of p variable is %x \n",p); // p contains the address of the number therefore printing p gives the address of
number.
printf("Value of p variable is %d \n",*p); // As we know that * is used to dereference a pointer therefore if we print *p, we
will get the value stored at the address contained by p.

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

Address of number variable is fff4

Value of p variable is 120

Pointer Arithmetics in C

1. Increment/Decrement of a Pointer

Example of Increment/Decrement Pointers in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

int a = 22;

int *p = &a;

printf("p = %u\n", p); // p

p++;

printf("p++ = %u\n", p); //p++ = p +4 // 4 bytes

p--;

printf("p-- = %u\n", p); //p-- = p -4 // restored to original value

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

p = 1357824204

p++ = 1357824208

p-- = 1357824204

2. Addition of Integer to Pointer

Example of Addition of Integer to Pointer in C

#include <stdio.h>
int main()

int a = 10;

int *ptr1, *ptr2;

ptr1 = &a;

ptr2 = &a;

printf("Pointer ptr2 before Addition: ");

printf("%p \n", ptr2);

ptr2 = ptr2 + 3;

printf("Pointer ptr2 after Addition: ");

printf("%p \n", ptr2);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

Pointer ptr2 before Addition: 0x7ffea5bf8804

Pointer ptr2 after Addition: 0x7ffea5bf8810

3. Subtraction of Integer to Pointer

Example of Subtraction of Integer to Pointer in C Editor

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

// Integer variable

int N = 10;

int *ptr1, *ptr2;

ptr1 = &N;
 ptr2 = &N;

printf("Pointer ptr2 before Subtraction: ");

printf("%p \n", ptr2);

ptr2 = ptr2 - 3;

printf("Pointer ptr2 after Subtraction: ");

printf("%p \n", ptr2);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

Pointer ptr2 before Subtraction: 0x7ffe0a32d8e4

Pointer ptr2 after Subtraction: 0x7ffe0a32d8d8

Read More: Pointers in C

3. User-Defined Data Types in C

1. Structure

A user-defined composite data type called a "structure" brings together variables of several data kinds under one name.
Complex data structures are made using it to represent real-world entities. You can create a structure by using the struct
keyword and declare each of its members inside curly braces

Syntax

struct structure_name {

data_type member1;

data_type member2;

// Add more members as needed

};

Access Structure Members

To access the structure, create a variable of it. Use the struct keyword inside the main() method, followed by the name of
the structure and then the name of the structure variable. To access members of a structure, use the dot syntax (.) after
the structure variable.

#include <stdio.h>

// Create a structure called myStructure

struct scholarHat {
 int myNum;

char myLetter;

};

int main() {

// Create a structure variable of scholarHat called s

struct scholarHat s;

// Assign values to members of s

s.myNum = 15;

s.myLetter = 'S';

// Print values

printf("My number: %d\n", s.myNum);

printf("My letter: %c\n", s.myLetter);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

My number: 15

My letter: S

2. Union

The union data type in C is a user-defined datatype that allows users to store different data types in the exact memory
location. It is similar to a structure but with one important difference, i.e., only one of its members can be active and
contain valid information at any given point in time.

Syntax

union union_name {

data_type member1;

data_type member2;

// Add more members as needed

};

#include <stdio.h>

union Data
{ int x;

float y;

data;

int main()

data.x = 35;

printf("data.x: %d\n", data.x);

data.y = 6.5f ;

printf("data.y: %f", data.y);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

data.x: 35

data.y: 6.500000

3. Enumeration

A user-defined data type called enumeration in C consists of a finite collection of named integer constants that are often
used to represent a group of related values with unique names. To create an enum, use the enum keyword, followed by
the name of the enum, and separate the enum items with a comma. To access the enum, you must create a variable of it.

Syntax

enum enum_name {

constant1,

constant2,

constant3,

// Add more constants as needed

};
#include <stdio.h>

enum ScholarHat {

LOW,

MEDIUM,

HIGH

};

int main() {

// Create an enum variable and assign a value to it

enum ScholarHat var = MEDIUM;

// Print the enum variable

printf("%d", var);

return 0;

Run Code >>

Output

Why do we need data types in C?

• Memory Allocation: Data types determine the amount of memory allocated to a variable. Different data types
occupy different amounts of memory, allowing efficient use of resources.

• Data Representation: Data types define how data is represented in binary form, ensuring that the computer
understands how to manipulate and store values.

• Operations and Functions: Data types determine which operations and functions are valid for a variable. For
example, arithmetic operations vary depending on data types (e.g., integer vs. floating-point).

• Compatibility: Data types ensure compatibility when sharing data between different parts of a program or when
interfacing with external libraries or hardware.

• Optimization: Properly choosing data types can lead to optimized code. For example, using smaller data types for
variables that don't require large ranges can save memory and improve performance.

• Code Readability: Data types make code more readable and self-documenting. They convey the intended use of a
variable to other developers.

• Portability: Data types help ensure code portability across different platforms and compilers by defining the size
and behavior of variables consistently.

• Memory Management: Data types influence how memory is managed and released, which is crucial for
preventing memory leaks and efficiently using system resources.