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3.1 java_lecture19.pdf

This document provides an overview of Java's primitive data types, which include byte, short, int, long, float, double, char, and boolean. It explains how primitives can be combined to form complex data types and emphasizes the importance of choosing the appropriate size for data types to optimize memory usage. Additionally, it discusses Java's assumptions regarding real numbers and large whole numbers in code.

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3 views

3.1 java_lecture19.pdf

This document provides an overview of Java's primitive data types, which include byte, short, int, long, float, double, char, and boolean. It explains how primitives can be combined to form complex data types and emphasizes the importance of choosing the appropriate size for data types to optimize memory usage. Additionally, it discusses Java's assumptions regarding real numbers and large whole numbers in code.

Uploaded by

oanodocometa1997
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lesson 19

Java’s Primitive Data


Types.

PRESENTED BY

Keith Vassallo icemalta.com


A Primitive?
- In programming, a primitive is something that cannot be broken down
into smaller parts.
- Primitives can be combined together to form complex data types and
objects.
- If a skyscraper is a complex type, then the nuts, bolts, rivets, glass, steel,
concrete and rebar are primitives used to build it.
- Java has eight primitive data types:
• Whole numbers: byte, short, int, long
• Real numbers: float, double
• Characters: char

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• Logical: boolean (true or false)
Complex Types
- Objects are complex types.
- If you think of a Dog, it has an age (int), a gender (char), a weight (float)
and so on. Hence, Dog is the complex type whilst int, char and float are
primitives used to build it.
- A Dog may also have a name (String).
- However, a String is also a complex type, since it is really made up of a
series (a ’string’) of characters (char).
- So, an object is really a combination of primitive and other complex data
types.

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Java’s Primitives
Primitive Use Size Example

byte Small signed 8 bits (-128 to 127) byte b = 8;


numbers

short Small signed 16 bits (-32,768 to 32767) short s = 3456;


numbers

int Signed 32 bits (-2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647) int i = 22344;


numbers

long Large signed 64 bits (−9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807) long l = 32322;


numbers

float Floating point 32 bits (1.4e-45 to 3.4e38) float f = 5.678f;


numbers

double Floating point 64 bits (5e-324 to 1.8e308) double d = 33.444;


numbers

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char Single Unicode 16 bits char myChar = ‘A’;
Character

boolean true or false 1 bit boolean test = true;


Choosing the Right Size
- Java has four types (byte, short, int and long) for whole numbers and two
types (float, double) for real numbers. Why?
- The idea is that you choose the smallest data type possible for your
needs.
- For example, if you need to store a user’s age, then a byte is probably
enough, unless you expect users older than 127. Using anything larger
would be a waste of the computer’s memory – since regardless of what
value you place in the variable, it will always occupy the same amount of
space.

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Java’s Assumptions
- When Java encounters a real in your code, it will automatically assume it
to be an double.
- Hence:

float temperature = 10.2;

Won’t work, since Java assumes 10.2 is a double, and double > float.

float temperature = 10.2f;

This is fine, since the ‘f’ at the end tells Java this is a float.

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Java’s Assumptions
- When Java encounters a large whole number in your code, it will
automatically assume it to be an int.
- Hence:

long distanceToNeptune = 4487940000;

Won’t work, since Java assumes the number is an int, and that’s too big
for an int.

long distanceToNeptune = 4487940000l;

This is fine, since the ‘l’ at the end tells Java this is a long.

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Great work, you’ve completed this lesson!

Next up: Assignment and Expression


Statements.

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© 2011-2017 Institute of Computer Education Ltd.

The contents of this document are copyright to the Institute of Computer Education Ltd, unless otherwise stated, and must not be reproduced without permission.

Every effort has been made to trace all of the copyright holders, but if any have been inadvertently overlooked the Institute of Computer Education Ltd. will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements at the first
opportunity. Please contact us directly. While the Institute of Computer Education Ltd. has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of this work, the Institute of Computer Education Ltd. makes no representation,
express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this work and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions from the work or the consequences thereof.
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