What are the primitive data types and non primitive data types in Java?

Brandon 159 Published: 12/19/2024

What are the primitive data types and non primitive data types in Java?

I'm happy to help you with that!

In Java, primitive data types are a set of fundamental data types that have been built into the language itself, meaning they don't need to be defined or instantiated like non-primitive data types do.

Primitive Data Types in Java:

boolean: A boolean value can either be true or false. byte: An 8-bit signed integer ranging from -128 to 127. char: A single character, represented by a Unicode character (a 16-bit unsigned integer). short: A 16-bit signed integer ranging from -32768 to 32767. int: A 32-bit signed integer ranging from -2147483648 to 2147483647. long: A 64-bit signed integer ranging from -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807. float: A 32-bit floating-point number, with a range similar to that of a double precision IEEE 754 floating point number. double: A 64-bit floating-point number, with a range similar to that of a double precision IEEE 754 floating point number.

Now, let's talk about non-primitive data types!

Non-Primitive Data Types in Java:

String: A sequence of characters, which can be used to represent text.

Array: A collection of elements of the same type, stored in contiguous memory locations and indexed by an integer. Class: A blueprint or template for creating objects, which contain data (attributes) and functions (methods).

Interface: An abstract type that defines a set of methods without providing implementations. Enum: A special kind of class that can be used to define a set of named values.

These non-primitive data types are instances of classes or interfaces in Java, which means they have their own constructors, methods, and fields. They must be defined or instantiated before you can use them in your code.

So, to summarize: primitive data types are built into the language and don't require explicit definition or instantiation, whereas non-primitive data types are instances of classes or interfaces that need to be defined or instantiated before they can be used.

I hope this helps!

Java data types with examples

Here are the basic data types in Java with examples:

1. Primitive Data Types

Java has eight primitive data types, which are:

int: an integer value (e.g., 123) byte: a byte value (-128 to 127) short: a short integer value (-32768 to 32767)

long: a long integer value (-9,223,372,036,854,775,807 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807) float: a floating-point number (e.g., 123.45f) double: a double-precision floating-point number boolean: a true or false value char: a single character (e.g., 'a' or 'n')

Example:

int age = 30;
byte score = 80;
short height = 175;
long population = 1000000L; // note the L suffix for long
float grade = 3.5f;
double pi = 3.14159;
boolean isAdmin = true;
char letter = 'A';

2. Non-Primitive Data Types

Java also has several non-primitive data types:

String: a sequence of characters (e.g., "hello") Array: a collection of values of the same type (e.g., int[] scores) Object: a reference to any object Wrapper Class (e.g., Integer, Double, Boolean): a class that wraps around a primitive value

Example:

String name = "John";
int[] scores = {90, 80, 70};
Object obj = new Object();
Integer ageInt = Integer.valueOf(30);
Double scoreDouble = Double.valueOf(3.5);
Boolean isAdminBool = Boolean.TRUE;

Note: In Java, the null value is equivalent to the absence of any object reference.

Additional tips:

Use meaningful variable names to make your code more readable. Use constants instead of magic numbers (e.g., use final int MAX_SCORE = 100; instead of int score = 100;) Use enum types when you need a set of named values (e.g., public enum Days { MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY };) Use class types to create custom data types (e.g., public class Person { public int age; public String name; })

I hope this helps!