Chapter 2: Java Fundamentals
Variables, Constants and
Built-in Data Types
Objectives
•Discovering what is a variable
•Discovering what is a data type
•Learning about the basic data types
•Constants and variables identifiers
•Get acquainted with how to select proper
types for numerical data.
•Write arithmetic expressions in Java.
Page 2 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Programs and Data
input data output data
Keyboard Processing Screen
• Most programs require the temporary storage of data.
The data to be processed is stored in a temporary storage
in the computer's memory: space memory.
• A space memory has three characteristics
• Identifier
• Data Type
• State
Page 3 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
State of the Space Memory
• The state of the space memory is the
current value (data) stored in the space
memory.
• The state of the space memory:
• May be changed.
– In this case the space memory is called variable.
• Cannot be changed.
– In this case the space memory is called constant.
Page 4 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Space Memory Identifier
• Identifier is a sequence of characters that
denotes the name of the space memory to
be used.
• This name is unique within a program.
• Identifier Rules
– It cannot begin with a digit (0 – 9).
– It may contain the letters a to z, A to Z, the
digits 0 to 9, and the underscore symbol, _.
– No spaces or punctuation, except the
underscore symbol, _, are allowed.
Page 5 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Identifier Conventions in Java
•Constants:
•All uppercase, separating words within
a multiword identifier with the
underscore symbol, _.
•Variables
All lowercase.
Capitalizing the first letter of each word
in a multiword identifier, except for the
first word.
Page 6 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Identifiers are Case-Sensitive
• Identifiers in Java are case-sensitive. Thus,
the identifiers myNumber and mynumber,
are seen as two different identifiers by the
compiler.
Page 7 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Data Type
•The data type defines what kinds of values a
space memory is allowed to store.
•All values stored in the same space memory
should be of the same data type.
•All constants and variables used in a Java
program must be defined prior to their use in
the program.
Page 8 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Java built-in Data Types
First Decision Level Constant or Variable
Second Decision Level
Numeric Character Boolean
Third Decision Level Integer Floating-point char String boolean
byte float
Fourth Decision Level
short double
int
long
Page 9 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Primitive Data Types
Size
Type Range Description
(bits)
boolean true, false Stores a value that is either
true or false.
char 16 Stores a single 16-bit
Unicode character.
byte 8 -128 to +127 Stores an integer.
short 16 -32768 to +32767 Stores an integer.
int 32 bits -2,147,483,648 to Stores an integer.
+2,147,483,647
long 64 bits -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 Stores an integer.
to
+9,223,372,036,854,775,807
float 32 bits accurate to 8 significant digits Stores a single-precision
floating point number.
double 64 bits accurate to 16 significant digits Stores a double-precision
floating point number.
Page 10 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Variable/Constant Declaration
• When the declaration is made, memory space
is allocated to store the values of the declared
variable or constant.
• The declaration of a variable means allocating
a space memory which state (value) may
change.
• The declaration of a constant means allocating
a space memory which state (value) cannot
change.
Page 11 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Constant Declaration
final dataType constIdentifier = literal | expression;
final double PI = 3.14159;
final int MONTH_IN_YEAR = 12;
final short FARADAY_CONSTANT = 23060;
The
Thereserved
reservedword
word These
Theseare
areconstants,
constants, These
Theseare
arecalled
final is used to also called named
also called named
called
final is used to literals.
literals.
declare
declareconstants.
constants. constant
constant. .
final int MAX = 1024;
final int MIN = 128;
final int AVG = (MAX + MIN) / 2;
This
Thisisiscalled
called
expression.
expression.
Page 12 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP
Variable Declaration
• A variable may be declared:
– With initial value.
– Without initial value.
• Variable declaration with initial value;
dataType variableIdentifier = literal | expression;
double avg = 0.0;
int i = 1;
int x =5, y = 7, z = (x+y)*3;
• Variable declaration without initial value;
dataType variableIdentifier;
double avg;
int i;
Page 13 Dr. S. GANNOUNI & Dr. A. TOUIR Introduction to OOP