Primitive data types in Java are the basic data types that serve as the building blocks for data manipulation in the language. There are eight primitive data types in Java, each with its own characteristics, size, and range of values. Below is an explanation of each primitive data type along with examples.

1. Byte

• Size: 8 bits
• Range: -128 to 127
• Description: The byte data type is used to save memory in large arrays where memory savings are required. It is also useful for handling raw binary data.

Example:

public class ByteExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        byte aByte = 100;
        System.out.println("Byte value: " + aByte);
    }
}

2. Short

• Size: 16 bits
• Range: -32,768 to 32,767
• Description: The short data type is also used to save memory, especially when you need a range of numbers larger than byte but smaller than int.

Example:

public class ShortExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        short aShort = 10000;
        System.out.println("Short value: " + aShort);
    }
}

3. Int

• Size: 32 bits
• Range: -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
• Description: The int data type is generally the default choice for integral values. It is used for numeric calculations.

Example:

public class IntExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int anInt = 100000;
        System.out.println("Integer value: " + anInt);
    }
}

4. Long

• Size: 64 bits
• Range: -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807
• Description: The long data type is used when a wider range than int is needed. It is especially useful for storing large values.

Example:

public class LongExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        long aLong = 100000L;
        System.out.println("Long value: " + aLong);
    }
}

5. Float

• Size: 32 bits
• Range: Approximately ±3.40282347E+38 (6-7 significant decimal digits)
• Description: The float data type is used for single-precision floating-point numbers. It is used when precision is not a primary concern.

Example:

public class FloatExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        float aFloat = 10.5f;
        System.out.println("Float value: " + aFloat);
    }
}

6. Double

• Size: 64 bits
• Range: Approximately ±1.79769313486231570E+308 (15 significant decimal digits)
• Description: The double data type is used for double-precision floating-point numbers. It is the default data type for decimal values in Java.

Example:

public class DoubleExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        double aDouble = 20.99;
        System.out.println("Double value: " + aDouble);
    }
}

7. Char

• Size: 16 bits
• Range: 0 to 65,535 (Unicode characters)
• Description: The char data type is used to store a single 16-bit Unicode character.

Example:

public class CharExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        char aChar = 'A';
        System.out.println("Char value: " + aChar);
    }
}

8. Boolean

• Size: 1 bit (but not precisely defined)
• Description: The boolean data type can hold only two values: true and false. It is used for simple flags and conditional statements.

Example:

public class BooleanExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        boolean aBoolean = true;
        System.out.println("Boolean value: " + aBoolean);
    }
}

Conclusion

The eight primitive data types in Java—byte, short, int, long, float, double, char, and boolean—are fundamental for data representation in programming. Understanding these data types is essential for developing effective Java applications, as they determine how data is stored, manipulated, and processed.