Data & Variables

A Basic Java Program w/ Variables

class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int age = 31;
        float temp = -2.5f;
        double large_decimal = 12345.6789;
        char grade = 'A';
        String name = "Mr. Park";
        boolean working = false;

        System.out.println("Age: " + age);
        System.out.println("Current Outside Temperature: " + temp);
        System.out.println("Large Decimal:" + large_decimal);
        System.out.println("Letter Grade: " + grade);
        System.out.println("Name: " + name);
        System.out.println("Are they working?: " + working);
    }
}

The 6 Data Types

In Java Programming, there are many datatypes we can work with. We will be analyzing 6 different datatypes.

Integer : int

Integer helps us to represent integer values in our program.

The int data type can store whole numbers from -2147483648 to 2147483647. We can use these values to do arithmetic operations.

Decimals : float

The float data type allows us to represent decimal based numbers. The values must end with a letter f. Example: float pi = 3.14f;

Longer Decimals : double

The double data type also allow us to represent decimal based numbers. The big difference between double and float is that a double variable is able to contain a larger value than float.

Text : String

The String data type is used to store a sequence of characters (text). String values must be surrounded by double quotes.

Single Character : char

The char data type is used to store a single character. The character must be surrounded by single quotes, like 'A' or 'c'.

True & False Values : boolean

For this, Java has a boolean data type, which can only take the values true or false.

FUN FACT: boolean was named after a mathematician named George Boole

Variables

Variables are labeled containers that helps to hold data in programming. The variables have labels so that we can reference them in our code. We can also update variables, create variables, and manipulate variables to help our code have functionality.

Variable Formatting

DATATYPENAME variable_label = VALUE;

All variables must have an explicit datatype stated, given a label name, and assigned a value. It must also have a semi-colon to end the line.

Variable Naming Conventions

1. start with lowercase letters

2. labels that have multiple words are either camelCased or use under_scores

3. labels cannot be the same as the built-in keywords in Java

4. labels should not be ambiguous String a = "Park" is less descriptive than String last_name = "Park"

Data Type and Their Storage Size

Data Type	RAM Storage Size
int	32 bits
float	32 bits
double	64 bits
char	16 bits
string	depends on String object
boolean	1 bit

Constants

A constant variable is the one whose value is fixed and only one copy of it exists in the program. Once you declare a constant variable and assign value to it, you cannot change its value again throughout the program. (Tutorialspoint)

Java does not support constants, but we can use two keywords: static and final to mimic such behaviour.

• static variables are created at compile, only one copy of them is available.

• final variables cannot be modified after its creation

In basic programs we don't really have a need for these types of data.

SOURCES

• w3schools -- https://www.w3schools.com/java/java_data_types.asp

• tutorialspoint -- https://www.tutorialspoint.com/difference-between-constants-and-final-variables-in-java