4.1.1

Data Types

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Data Types

Every piece of data that is stored has a type. The type determines how it is stored and what you can do with the data.

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Integer

  • Whole numbers.
  • Examples:
    • 12, 0, -142.
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Float / Real

  • Fractional numbers.
  • Examples:
    • 0.42, 1.00.
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String

  • Text data.
  • Example:
    • "Hello, world!".
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Character

  • A single letter of text data.
  • Example:
    • 'a'.
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Boolean

  • A True or False value.
  • Examples:
    • True.
    • False.

Casting

Casting is the process of converting data from one type to another.

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Reasons for casting

  • One of the most common reasons for casting is output.
  • Output must be formatted as a string, and so we may need to convert a certain piece of data to a string.
  • All input also comes as a string, and must then be converted to other data types.
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Casting functions

  • Casting to a string can be done using the str function. E.g:
    • str(3) gives "3".
  • Casting to an integer can be done using the int function. E.g:
    • int(3.4) gives 3.
  • Casting to a float can be done using the float function. E.g:
    • float("3.4") gives 3.4.

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Procedurally

6.3Thinking Logically

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

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