Java Data Types

Data types in the Java programming language are basically divided into two groups – primitive data types and object references. A primitive data type is a basic building block and has full built-in support. Many other languages also support composite data types, which are build on a combination of primitive data types and may or may not have built-in support.

Java Primitive Data Types

Let’s discuss the available primitive data types in Java. There are 8 primitive data types in Java, which are Boolean, Char, Byte, Short, Int, Long, Float, and Double.

Data Type	Purpose	Contents	Default Value*
boolean	Truth value	true or false	false
char	Character	Unicode characters	u0000
byte	Signed integer	8 bit two’s complement	(byte) 0
short	Signed integer	16 bit two’s complement	(short) 0
int	Signed integer	32 bit two’s complement	0
long	Signed integer	64 bit two’s complement	0L
float	Real number	32 bit IEEE 754 floating point	0.0f
double	Real number	64 bit IEEE 754 floating point	0.0d

Note: A simple way to remember the Java primitive data types is by using this mnemonic aid: Be Careful, Bears Shouldn’t Ingest Large Furry Dogs.

• Byte: A 8-bit signed and 2’s complement integer type. Its value range is from -128 to 127 (both inclusive).
• Short: A 16-bit signed and 2’s complement integer type. Its value range from -32,768 to 32,767 (both inclusive).
• Int: A 32-bit signed and 2’s complement integer type. Its value range from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 (both inclusive).
• Long: A 64-bit signed and 2’s complement integer type. Its value range from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 (both inclusive).
• Float: A 32-bit signed and single precision type.
• Double: A 64-bit signed and double precision floating type.
• Boolean: There are only 2 possible values – true and false.
• Char: A single 16-bit Unicode character. Its value range from ‘\u0000’ (or 0) to ‘\uffff’ (or 65,535, both inclusive).

Java Object References

Java object references are variables which hold references to objects.

Unlike Java primitive data types which store actual data, object references store only a reference to the actual data object.