Primitive and non-primitive data types are the basic foundation for Java programming. While primitive data types enable simplicity and efficiency, non-primitive data types support scalability and object-oriented programming in Java.
In Java, the programmer creates a program using different types of data, such as numeric, characters, or boolean. We use such data to arrive at data types in Java or any other programming language.
Java Data Types and Sizes
Based on the type of data type, we can determine the size of the variable.
For example, there are different types of data such as int, char, boolean, etc.,
If the data type is ‘int,’ then the compiler understands that the associated variable is a number with a size of 4 bytes.
Similarly, for char it is 2 bytes and represents characters.
What is a Data Type?
A data type is the type of data that a programmer needs it to use in any program to perform the logic.
A data type is not just a technical term but a practical necessity in any Java program. It’s the data you must use to make your program perform the logic you want.
What are Abstract Data Types?
In Java, the abstract keyword should not be used with data types or variables. Instead, it is only allowed with methods and classes.
How to Declare Data Types in Java?
The syntax for data declaration is as follows,
int a= 10;
Here, int is a data type,
a= variable
“=” is the assignment operator
10 is value
Primitive and Non-Primitive Data Types in Java
It is crucial to distinguish between two types of data types in Java: primitive and user-defined.
Primitive Data Type In JAVA
These data types in Java are already pre-defined, and users need not create them. As they are pre-defined, the compiler knows about primitive data types beforehand and knows data type memory, capacity (number of bytes), and the range of values it can accommodate. They occupy the stack area of the memory.
All primitive data types start with a small letter. However, programmers cannot create objects using them. It means that calling methods or performing other operations is not possible with primitive data types. As a result, these data types can only help store values. Primitive data types include boolean, byte, char, short, int, long, float, and double.
Non-Primitive Data Type in JAVA
Non-primitive data types, which start with capital letters, are also known as user-defined data types in Java. The programmer creates these data types, which help create objects in the Java programming language. On the other hand, the compiler doesn’t know the memory and capacity to be held. However, the compiler can only know those details after the declaration or definition of data types. For example, user-defined data types in Java include Class, Array, Linked list, and Enum.