UNIT 03 – BASIC ELEMENTS OF A JAVA PROGRAM

LESSON # 3.2
TITLE: Data Types and Variables

Terminologies
Data – Raw facts and figures.
Information – manipulating or transforming data types.
Literals – is a notation or representation for a fixed value in the source code.
Primitive Data type – is a type of data that can have only one value at a time.
Character Escape Sequence – is a string of characters preceded by an escape character (\) that
represents a command to a printer or display device.
Identifiers – are names given to data, methods, and classes.

Discussion

Java Primitive Data Types

Data Type Size Description

byte 1 byte Stores whole numbers from -128 to 127.
short 2 bytes Stores whole numbers from -32,768 to 32,767.
int 4 bytes Stores whole numbers from -2,147,483,648 to
2,147,483,647.
long 8 bytes Stores whole numbers from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to
9,223,372,036,854,775,807.
float 4 bytes Stores fractional numbers. Sufficient for storing 6 to 7
decimal digits.
double 8 bytes Stores fractional numbers. Sufficient for storing 15 decimal
digits.
boolean 1 bit Stores true or false values.
char 2 bytes Stores a single character/letter or ASCII values.

Examples:
int myNum = 5; // Integer (whole number)
float myFloatNum = 5.99f; // Floating point number
char myLetter = 'D'; // Character
boolean myBool = true; // Boolean
String myText = "Hello"; // String

Sample of Literals:
3 4.5 ‘a’ “this is a string”

Character Escape Sequence

Escape Sequence Description
\’ Single Quote
\” Double Quote
\\ Backslash
\r Carriage Return
\n New Line
\t Tab
Creating Variables

Rules for naming variables:

• All variable names must begin with a letter of the alphabet, an underscore, or (_), or a dollar sign
($). The convention is to always use a letter of the alphabet. The dollar sign and the underscore are
discouraged.

• After the first initial letter, variable names may also contain letters and the digits 0 to 9. No spaces
or special characters are allowed.

• The name can be of any length, but don't get carried away. Remember that you will have to type
this name.

• Uppercase characters are distinct from lowercase characters. Using ALL uppercase letters are
primarily used to identify constant variables. Remember that variable names are case-sensitive.

• You cannot use a java keyword (reserved word) for a variable name.

Syntax in declaring a variable

Syntax
Type variable name;

Example:
int num1; //each declaration should be terminated by a semicolon
double sum, product; // declaration of two variables of the same type
char code = ‘a’ // declaration and initialization of the variable code