C++ Tutorials

C++ - Primary Data Types

Primary Data Types in C++

In C++, primary data types are the basic types that define the kind of data a variable can hold. They are predefined by the language, and each one serves a specific purpose. The most commonly used primary data types in C++ include int, char, float, double, and bool.

1. Integer Type: int

The int data type is used to store integer values, i.e., whole numbers without decimal points. Integers can be both positive and negative, and they are typically used to represent quantities such as count, index, or any whole number value.

Size

The size of an int is typically 4 bytes (32 bits) on most systems, but this can vary depending on the system architecture.

Range

The range of values for an int is typically:

  • Signed int: -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
  • Unsigned int: 0 to 4,294,967,295

Example


#include 

int main() {
    int age = 30;  // Declare and initialize an integer variable
    std::cout << "Age: " << age << std::endl;  // Output: Age: 30
    return 0;
}

2. Character Type: char

The char data type is used to store a single character. It is used to store individual letters, digits, symbols, and punctuation marks.

Size

The size of a char is 1 byte (8 bits) on most systems.

Range

The char data type can hold values from:

  • Signed char: -128 to 127
  • Unsigned char: 0 to 255

Example


#include 

int main() {
    char grade = 'A';  // Declare and initialize a character variable
    std::cout << "Grade: " << grade << std::endl;  // Output: Grade: A
    return 0;
}

3. Floating-Point Type: float

The float data type is used to store single-precision floating-point numbers (decimal numbers). It is commonly used when you need to represent real numbers but do not require high precision.

Size

The size of a float is typically 4 bytes (32 bits) on most systems.

Range

The range of values for a float is approximately:

  • 1.2 x 10-38 to 3.4 x 1038 for positive values
  • -1.2 x 10-38 to -3.4 x 1038 for negative values

Example


#include 

int main() {
    float pi = 3.14f;  // Declare and initialize a float variable
    std::cout << "Value of Pi: " << pi << std::endl;  // Output: Value of Pi: 3.14
    return 0;
}

4. Double-Precision Floating-Point Type: double

The double data type is used to store double-precision floating-point numbers. It is used when higher precision for real numbers is required, such as in scientific calculations.

Size

The size of a double is typically 8 bytes (64 bits) on most systems.

Range

The range of values for a double is approximately:

  • 2.2 x 10-308 to 1.8 x 10308 for positive values
  • -2.2 x 10-308 to -1.8 x 10308 for negative values

Example


#include 

int main() {
    double e = 2.718281828459;  // Declare and initialize a double variable
    std::cout << "Value of E: " << e << std::endl;  // Output: Value of E: 2.71828
    return 0;
}

5. Boolean Type: bool

The bool data type is used to store boolean values, which represent logical true or false values. It is often used in conditions and decision-making statements in C++.

Size

The size of a bool is typically 1 byte (8 bits), but it can vary depending on the system.

Range

The range of a bool is:

  • true: 1
  • false: 0

Example

#include 

int main() {
    bool isAdult = true;  // Declare and initialize a boolean variable
    if (isAdult) {
        std::cout << "You are an adult!" << std::endl;  // Output: You are an adult!
    }
    return 0;
}

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C++

Beginner 5 Hours

Primary Data Types in C++

In C++, primary data types are the basic types that define the kind of data a variable can hold. They are predefined by the language, and each one serves a specific purpose. The most commonly used primary data types in C++ include int, char, float, double, and bool.

1. Integer Type: int

The int data type is used to store integer values, i.e., whole numbers without decimal points. Integers can be both positive and negative, and they are typically used to represent quantities such as count, index, or any whole number value.

Size

The size of an int is typically 4 bytes (32 bits) on most systems, but this can vary depending on the system architecture.

Range

The range of values for an int is typically:

  • Signed int: -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
  • Unsigned int: 0 to 4,294,967,295

Example


#include 

int main() {
    int age = 30;  // Declare and initialize an integer variable
    std::cout << "Age: " << age << std::endl;  // Output: Age: 30
    return 0;
}

2. Character Type: char

The char data type is used to store a single character. It is used to store individual letters, digits, symbols, and punctuation marks.

Size

The size of a char is 1 byte (8 bits) on most systems.

Range

The char data type can hold values from:

  • Signed char: -128 to 127
  • Unsigned char: 0 to 255

Example


#include 

int main() {
    char grade = 'A';  // Declare and initialize a character variable
    std::cout << "Grade: " << grade << std::endl;  // Output: Grade: A
    return 0;
}

3. Floating-Point Type: float

The float data type is used to store single-precision floating-point numbers (decimal numbers). It is commonly used when you need to represent real numbers but do not require high precision.

Size

The size of a float is typically 4 bytes (32 bits) on most systems.

Range

The range of values for a float is approximately:

  • 1.2 x 10-38 to 3.4 x 1038 for positive values
  • -1.2 x 10-38 to -3.4 x 1038 for negative values

Example


#include 

int main() {
    float pi = 3.14f;  // Declare and initialize a float variable
    std::cout << "Value of Pi: " << pi << std::endl;  // Output: Value of Pi: 3.14
    return 0;
}

4. Double-Precision Floating-Point Type: double

The double data type is used to store double-precision floating-point numbers. It is used when higher precision for real numbers is required, such as in scientific calculations.

Size

The size of a double is typically 8 bytes (64 bits) on most systems.

Range

The range of values for a double is approximately:

  • 2.2 x 10-308 to 1.8 x 10308 for positive values
  • -2.2 x 10-308 to -1.8 x 10308 for negative values

Example


#include 

int main() {
    double e = 2.718281828459;  // Declare and initialize a double variable
    std::cout << "Value of E: " << e << std::endl;  // Output: Value of E: 2.71828
    return 0;
}

5. Boolean Type: bool

The bool data type is used to store boolean values, which represent logical true or false values. It is often used in conditions and decision-making statements in C++.

Size

The size of a bool is typically 1 byte (8 bits), but it can vary depending on the system.

Range

The range of a bool is:

  • true: 1
  • false: 0

Example

#include 

int main() {
    bool isAdult = true;  // Declare and initialize a boolean variable
    if (isAdult) {
        std::cout << "You are an adult!" << std::endl;  // Output: You are an adult!
    }
    return 0;
}

Related Tutorials

Frequently Asked Questions for C++

A void pointer is a special type of pointer that can point to any data type, making it versatile for generic data handling.

Dynamic memory allocation in C++ refers to allocating memory at runtime using operators like new and delete, providing flexibility in memory management.

Templates in C++ allow functions and classes to operate with generic types, enabling code reusability and type safety.

Iterators are objects that allow traversal through the elements of a container in the STL, providing a uniform way to access elements.

C++ is an object-oriented programming language that extends C by adding features like classes, inheritance, and polymorphism. Unlike C, which is procedural, C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented paradigms.

An array in C++ is declared by specifying the type of its elements followed by the array name and size in square brackets, e.g., int arr[10];.

The new operator allocates memory dynamically on the heap, while the delete operator deallocates memory, preventing memory leaks.

Type casting in C++ is the process of converting a variable from one data type to another, either implicitly or explicitly.

Inheritance is a feature in C++ where a new class (derived class) acquires properties and behaviors (methods) from an existing class (base class).

Operator overloading enables the redefinition of the way operators work for user-defined types, allowing operators to be used with objects of those types.

Function overloading allows multiple functions with the same name but different parameters to coexist in a C++ program, enabling more intuitive function calls.

In C++, a class is declared using the class keyword, followed by the class name and a pair of curly braces containing member variables and functions.

No, a C++ program cannot execute without a main() function, as it is the designated entry point for program execution.

Vectors are dynamic arrays provided by the STL in C++ that can grow or shrink in size during program execution.

A namespace in C++ is a declarative region that provides a scope to the identifiers (names of types, functions, variables) to avoid name conflicts.

The primary difference is that members of a struct are public by default, whereas members of a class are private by default.

The const keyword in C++ is used to define constants, indicating that the value of a variable cannot be changed after initialization.

Exception handling in C++ is a mechanism to handle runtime errors using try, catch, and throw blocks, allowing a program to continue execution after an error.

The STL is a collection of template classes and functions in C++ that provide general-purpose algorithms and data structures like vectors, lists, and maps.

A reference in C++ is an alias for another variable, whereas a pointer holds the memory address of a variable. References cannot be null and must be initialized upon declaration.

Pointers in C++ are variables that store memory addresses of other variables. They allow for dynamic memory allocation and efficient array handling.

Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common base class, enabling a single function or operator to work in different ways.

Constructors are special member functions that initialize objects when they are created. Destructors are called when objects are destroyed, used to release resources.

These access specifiers define the accessibility of class members. Public members are accessible from outside the class, private members are not, and protected members are accessible within the class and by derived classes.

The main() function serves as the entry point for a C++ program. It is where the execution starts and ends.

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