Content

Java Lesson 3 • Java Data Types

➢ Primitive Data Types
Java From Scratch ➢ Java Numbers
➢ Integer Types
➢ Floating Point Types
➢ Scientific Numbers
➢ Java Boolean Data Types
➢ Java Boolean Data Types
➢ Java Characters
➢ Strings
➢ Java Non-Primitive Data Types

• Java Type Casting

➢ Widening Casting
➢ Narrowing Casting
 Java Data Types
As explained in the previous chapter, a variable in Java must be a specified data type:
Example
int myNum = 5; // Integer (whole number)
float myFloatNum = 5.99f; // Floating point number
char myLetter = 'D'; // Character
boolean myBool = true; // Boolean
String myText = "Hello"; // String

Data types are divided into two groups:

• Primitive data types - includes byte, short, int, long, float, double, boolean and char
• Non-primitive data types - such as String, Arrays and Classes (you will learn more about these in
a later chapter)
Primitive Data Types
A primitive data type specifies the size and type of variable values, and it has no additional methods.
There are eight primitive data types in Java:

Data Type Size Description

byte 1 byte Stores whole numbers from -128 to 127

short 2 bytes Stores whole numbers from -32,768 to 32,767

int 4 bytes Stores whole numbers from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

long 8 bytes Stores whole numbers from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to

9,223,372,036,854,775,807

float 4 bytes Stores fractional numbers. Sufficient for storing 6 to 7 decimal digits

double 8 bytes Stores fractional numbers. Sufficient for storing 15 decimal digits

boolean 1 bit Stores true or false values

char 2 bytes Stores a single character/letter or ASCII values

Exercise:
Add the correct data type for the following variables:

myNum = 9;
myFloatNum = 8.99f;
myLetter = 'A';
myBool = false;
myText = "Hello World";
 Java Numbers
Numbers
Primitive number types are divided into two groups:

Integer types stores whole numbers, positive or negative (such as 123 or -456), without decimals.
Valid types are byte, short, int and long. Which type you should use, depends on the numeric value.

Floating point types represents numbers with a fractional part, containing one or more decimals.
There are two types: float and double.

Even though there are many numeric types in Java, the most used for numbers are int (for whole
numbers) and double (for floating point numbers). However, we will describe them all as you continue
to read.

Integer Types
Byte Short Int Long

Byte Short
The byte data type can store whole numbers from The short data type can store whole numbers
-128 to 127. This can be used instead of int or from -32768 to 32767:
other integer types to save memory when you are
Example
certain that the value will be within -128 and 127:
Example short myNum = 5000;
byte myNum = 100; System.out.println(myNum);
System.out.println(myNum);

Int Long
The int data type can store whole numbers from The long data type can store whole numbers
-2147483648 to 2147483647. In general, and in from -9223372036854775808 to
our tutorial, the int data type is the preferred data 9223372036854775807.
type when we create variables with a numeric This is used when int is not large enough to
value. store the value. Note that you should end the
value with an "L":
Example
int myNum = 100000;
Example
System.out.println(myNum); long myNum = 15000000000L;
System.out.println(myNum);
Floating Point Types

You should use a floating point type whenever you need a number with a decimal, such as 9.99 or
3.14515.

The float and double data types can store fractional numbers. Note that you should end the value with
an "f" for floats and "d" for doubles:

Float Example Double Example

float myNum = 5.75f; double myNum = 19.99d;
System.out.println(myNum); System.out.println(myNum);

Use float or 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 only six or seven decimal digits, while double variables have a precision
of about 15 digits. Therefore it is safer to use double for most calculations.

Scientific Numbers
A floating point number can also be a scientific number with an "e" to indicate the power of 10:
Example
float f1 = 35e3f;
double d1 = 12E4d;
System.out.println(f1);
System.out.println(d1);

Java Boolean Data Types

Boolean Types
Very often in programming, you will need a data type that can only have one of two values, like:
• YES / NO
• ON / OFF
• TRUE / FALSE

For this, Java has a boolean data type, which can only take the values true or false:
Example
boolean isJavaFun = true;
boolean isFishTasty = false;
System.out.println(isJavaFun); // Outputs true
System.out.println(isFishTasty); // Outputs false

Boolean values are mostly used for conditional testing.

You will learn much more about booleans and conditions later in this tutorial.
 Java Characters
Characters
The char data type is used to store a single character. The character must be surrounded by single
quotes, like 'A' or 'c':
Example
char myGrade = 'B';
System.out.println(myGrade);

Alternatively, if you are familiar with ASCII values, you can use those to display certain characters:
Example
char myVar1 = 65, myVar2 = 66, myVar3 = 67;
System.out.println(myVar1);
System.out.println(myVar2);
System.out.println(myVar3);

Strings
The String data type is used to store a sequence of characters (text). String values must be surrounded
by double quotes:
Example
String greeting = "Hello World";
System.out.println(greeting);
The String type is so much used and integrated in Java, that some call it "the special ninth type".
A String in Java is actually a non-primitive data type, because it refers to an object. The String object
has methods that are used to perform certain operations on strings. Don't worry if you don't
understand the term "object" just yet.

Java Non-Primitive Data Types

Non-Primitive Data Types
Non-primitive data types are called reference types because they refer to objects.
The main difference between primitive and non-primitive data types are:
• Primitive types are predefined (already defined) in Java. Non-primitive types are created by the
programmer and is not defined by Java (except for String).
• Non-primitive types can be used to call methods to perform certain operations, while primitive
types cannot.
• A primitive type has always a value, while non-primitive types can be null.
• A primitive type starts with a lowercase letter, while non-primitive types starts with an uppercase
letter.
• The size of a primitive type depends on the data type, while non-primitive types have all the same
size.

Examples of non-primitive types are Strings, Arrays, Classes, Interface, etc.

 Java Type Casting
Type casting is when you assign a value of one primitive data type to another type.
In Java, there are two types of casting:

• Widening Casting (automatically) - converting a smaller type to a larger type size

byte -> short -> char -> int -> long -> float -> double
• Narrowing Casting (manually) - converting a larger type to a smaller size type
double -> float -> long -> int -> char -> short -> byte

Widening Casting
Widening casting is done automatically when passing a smaller size type to a larger size type:
Example
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int myInt = 9;
double myDouble = myInt; // Automatic casting: int to double

System.out.println(myInt); // Outputs 9
System.out.println(myDouble); // Outputs 9.0
}
}

Narrowing Casting
Narrowing casting must be done manually by placing the type in parentheses in front of the value:
Example
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
double myDouble = 9.78d;
int myInt = (int) myDouble; // Manual casting: double to int

System.out.println(myDouble); // Outputs 9.78

System.out.println(myInt); // Outputs 9
}
}