What Are Basic Data Types in C?
In C programming, data types are used to define the type of data that a variable can hold. C provides several basic data types that are commonly used in programming. Understanding these data types is essential for writing efficient and error-free code.
Integer Data Types
Integers are whole numbers without any fractional parts. In C, there are different integer data types available:
- char: Used to store characters or small integers within the range of -128 to 127.
- short: Typically used to store small integers within the range of -32,768 to 32,767.
- int: The most commonly used integer type. It can hold integers within the range of -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647.
- long: Used when a wider range of values is needed. It can hold integers within the range of approximately -9.22 × 10^18 to 9.22 × 10^18.
Floating-Point Data Types
Floating-point numbers are numbers with fractional parts. C provides two main floating-point data types:
- float: Used to represent single-precision floating-point numbers with a precision of about six decimal places.
- double: Typically used for double-precision floating-point numbers with a precision of about fifteen decimal places.
Character Data Type
The character data type in C is used to store individual characters. It is represented by the char data type.
Characters are enclosed within single quotes (‘ ‘). For example, ‘A’ or ‘$’.
Boolean Data Type
Boolean data type is used to represent logical values. In C, 0 represents false, and any non-zero value represents true. However, C does not have a built-in boolean data type like some other programming languages.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we covered the basic data types available in C programming. These data types are essential for declaring variables and defining their ranges and precision. By understanding these data types, you can write more efficient and reliable code.