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Java Datatypes

This document discusses the differences between primitive and reference variables in Java. Primitive variables directly store a value, while reference variables store a reference to an object in memory rather than the object itself. The reference allows accessing the actual object using dot notation. A reference variable is like a remote control that provides access to an object's methods and fields. The size of a reference variable is implementation-dependent, but all references are the same size regardless of the referenced object. Arithmetic cannot be performed on reference variables.

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42 views

Java Datatypes

This document discusses the differences between primitive and reference variables in Java. Primitive variables directly store a value, while reference variables store a reference to an object in memory rather than the object itself. The reference allows accessing the actual object using dot notation. A reference variable is like a remote control that provides access to an object's methods and fields. The size of a reference variable is implementation-dependent, but all references are the same size regardless of the referenced object. Arithmetic cannot be performed on reference variables.

Uploaded by

BITPIllS IT SOLUTIONS & Consultancy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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JAVA Fundamentals

Long
byte short int

Float double
The compiler won’t let you put a value from a large cup into
a small one. But what about the other way—pouring a
small cup into a big one? No problem.

NO!
Don’t do that
Be sure the value can fit into the variable.
what about non-primitive variables?

what about objects?

Person p= new Person();


p.eat();
There is actually no such thing as an object variable.

■ There’s only an object reference variable.

■ An object reference variable holds bits that represent a way to access an object.

■ It doesn’t hold the object itself, but it holds something like a pointer. Or an address. Except, in Java we don’t
really know what is inside a reference variable. We do know that whatever it is, it represents one and only one
object. And the JVM knows how to use the reference to get to the object.
For eg

byte x = 7; Scenario 1:
The bits representing 7 go
into the variable. (00000111). Book A =new Book();
Book B =new Book();
Reference Variable Book C =B;
Dog myDog = new Dog();
The bits representing a way to get to
the Dog object go into the variable. Scenario 2:
The Dog object itself does not go into
the variable Book A =new Book();
Book B =new Book();

A=B;

Brain Strom? B=Null;

1.How big is a reference variable?


2. Does all object references are the same size, regardless of the
size
of the actual objects to which they refer?
3. Can I do arithmetic on a reference variable, increment it?
A reference
variable is like a
remote control.
A primitive A reference Using the dot
Variables come in Variables must variable value is variable value is operator (.) on a
A reference it is not
two flavors: always be declared the bits the bits reference variable
variable has a referencing any
primitive and with a name and a representing the representing a way is like pressing a
value of null when object.
reference. type. value (5, ‘a’, true, to get to an object button on the
3.1416, etc.). on the heap remote control to
access a method
or instance
variable.

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