Data types are cornerstones of a programming language. The Java language has 8 primitive types: boolean, byte, char, double, float, int, long, and short.

A boolean type represents either true or false value.

A char type represents a single character, such as 'a', 'B', 'c', ...Actually char type is 16-bit integer number (un-signed).

The others are numeric types. The following section lists the primitive types which represent numbers in the Java language (the char type is also included because it is actually a number type):

 

Integer numbers:

• byte: 8 bit (1 byte)

minimum value: -128 (-27)

maximum value: 127 (27-1)

• char: 16 bit (2 bytes)

minimum value: 0

maximum value: 65,535

• short: 16 bit (2 bytes)

minimum value: -32,768 (-215)

maximum value: 32,767 (215-1)

• int: 32 bit (4 bytes)

minimum value:  -2,147,483,648 (-231)

maximum value: 2,147,483,647 (231-1)

• long: 64 bit (8 bytes)

minimum value:  approx. -9,2 billions of billion (-263)

maximum value:  approx. 9,2 billions of billion (-263-1)

 

Floating-point numbers:

• float: 32 bit (4 bytes):
• double: 64 bit (8 bytes):

 

 

There are 4 integer types: byte, short, int, and long.

There are 2 floating point number types: float and double.

 

Related Tutorials:

• Summary of all keywords in Java
• Some notes about arrays in Java
• Some notes about numeric literals in Java

 

Other Recommended Tutorials:

• 9 Rules about Constructors in Java
• 12 Rules and Examples About Inheritance in Java
• 12 Rules of Overriding in Java You Should Know
• 10 Java Core Best Practices Every Java Programmer Should Know
• Understand Interfaces in Java
• Understand how variables are passed in Java