Data types are classified into two categories: primitive and non-primitive data types.
Primitive data types are the basic or fundamental data types that represent the most basic forms of data, such as numbers, characters, and boolean values. Java has eight primitive data types: boolean, byte, short, int, long, float, double, and char.
Non-primitive data types are also known as reference types, and they include classes, interfaces, and arrays. Unlike primitive data types, non-primitive data types are composed of other data types and are created using constructors.
Java’s primitive data types can be divided into four groups:
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Integral data types: These include byte, short, int, and long, and are used to represent whole numbers. The size and range of values for each type vary, with byte being the smallest and long being the largest.
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Floating-point data types: These include float and double, and are used to represent decimal numbers. Float is a single-precision floating-point number, while double is a double-precision floating-point number.
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Character data type: This is char, and is used to represent a single Unicode character.
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Boolean data type: This is boolean, and is used to represent true/false values.
In Java, data types are important because they help to ensure that a program is written and executed correctly. Using the appropriate data type can help to prevent errors, improve performance, and make the code more readable and understandable.