What Is the Range of Data Type in Java?

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Angela Bailey

In Java, data types are used to determine the type of data that can be stored in a variable. Each data type has a specific range of values that it can accommodate. Understanding the range of data types is essential for efficient programming and avoiding potential errors.

Primitive Data Types

Java has eight primitive data types, which are divided into four categories: integral, floating-point, character, and boolean.

Integral Data Types

The integral data types in Java are used to represent whole numbers without any decimal places. They include:

  • byte: This is the smallest integral data type in Java and has a range of -128 to 127.
  • short: The short data type has a range of -32,768 to 32,767.
  • int: The int data type is commonly used and has a range of -2^31 to (2^31 – 1).
  • long: The long data type has an extended range compared to int and can hold larger whole numbers from -2^63 to (2^63 – 1).

Floating-Point Data Types

Floating-point data types in Java are used to represent numbers with decimal places. They include:

  • float: The float data type is a single-precision floating-point number with a range of approximately ±1.4 x 10^-45 to ±3.4028235 x 10^38.
  • double: The double data type is a double-precision floating-point number with a larger range than float, approximately ±4.9 x 10^-324 to ±1.7976931348623157 x 10^308.

Character Data Type

The character data type, denoted by the char keyword in Java, is used to represent single characters. It has a range of values from ‘\u0000’ (or 0) to ‘\uffff’ (or 65,535).

Boolean Data Type

The boolean data type is used to represent a binary value: either true or false. It does not have a numeric range as it can only hold two possible values.

Non-Primitive Data Types

In addition to the primitive data types, Java also has non-primitive data types, which are also known as reference types. These include:

  • String: The String class in Java is used to represent a sequence of characters and has no fixed range.
  • Arrays: Arrays in Java can store multiple elements of the same type and have no fixed range.
  • Classes: Classes are user-defined reference types that can hold various types of data and have no predefined range.

Understanding the range of data types in Java is crucial for selecting the appropriate type for storing and manipulating data effectively. By choosing the right data type for each variable, you can optimize memory usage and prevent unexpected behavior in your programs.

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