In C, variable(data) should be declared before it can be
used in program. Data types are the keywords, which are used for assigning a
type to a variable.
Data types in C:
Fundamental Data Types:
Integer types
Floating Type
Character types
Derived Data Types:
Arrays
Pointers
Structures
Enumeration
Syntax for declaration of a variable:
data_type variable_name;
For e.g:
int book;
Integer data types:
Keyword int is used for declaring the variable with
integer type. For example:
int var1;
Here, var1 is a variable of type integer.
The size of int is either 2 bytes(In older PC's) or 4
bytes. If you consider an integer having size of 4 byte( equal to 32 bits), it
can take 232 distinct states as: -231,-231+1, ...,-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ..., 231-2,
231-1
Similarly, int of 2 bytes, it can take 216 distinct
states from -215 to 215-1. If you try to store larger number than 231-1,
i.e,+2147483647 and smaller number than -231, i.e, -2147483648, program
will not run correctly.
Floating types:
Variables of floating types can hold real values(numbers)
such as: 2.34, -9.382 etc. Keywords either float or double is used for
declaring floating type variable. For example:
float var2;
double var3;
Here, both var2 and var3 are floating type variables.
In C, floating values can be represented in exponential
form as well. For example:
float var3=22.442e2;
Difference between float and double:
Generally the size of float(Single precision float data
type) is 4 bytes and that of double(Double precision float data type) is 8
bytes. Floating point variables has a precision of 6 digits whereas the the
precision of double is 14 digits.
Note: Precision describes the number of significant
decimal places that a floating values carries.
Character types:
Keyword char is used for declaring the variable of
character type. For example:
char var4='h';
Here, var4 is a variable of type character which is
storing a character 'h'.
The size of char is 1 byte. The character data type
consists of ASCII characters. Each character is given a specific value. For
example:
For, 'a', value =97
For, 'b', value=98
For, 'A', value=65
For, '&', value=33
For, '2', value=49
Here is the list of all ASCII characters in C language.
Qualifiers:
Qualifiers alters the meaning of base data types to yield
a new data type.
Size qualifiers:
Size qualifiers alters the size of basic data type. The
keywords long and short are two size qualifiers. For example:
long int i;
The size of int is either 2 bytes or 4 bytes but, when
long keyword is used, that variable will be either 4 bytes of 8 bytes. Learn
more about long keyword in C programming. If the larger size of variable
is not needed then, short keyword can be used in similar manner as long keyword.
Sign qualifiers:
Whether a variable can hold only positive value or both
values is specified by sign qualifiers. Keywords signed and unsigned are used
for sign qualifiers.
unsigned int a;
// unsigned variable can hold zero and positive values only.
It is not necessary to define variable using keyword
signed because, a variable is signed by default. Sign qualifiers can be applied
to only int and char data types. For a int variable of size 4 bytes it can hold
data from -231 to 231-1 but, if that variable is defined unsigned, it can hold
data from 0 to 232 -1.
Constant qualifiers:
Constant qualifiers can be declared with keyword const.
An object declared by const cannot be modified.
const int p=20;
The value of p cannot be changed in the program.
Volatile qualifiers:
A variable should be declared volatile whenever its value
can be changed by some external sources outside program. Keyword volatile is
used to indicate volatile variable.
