2 replies to this topic

[lina]

1. Why does Java provide both ints and floats, if floats can encode any possible int?


2. Why does Java provide four types for storing integer data (byte, short, int, and long)? I.e., why would you use one over another?

[wim DC]

Run this:

public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("float - max: " + Float.MAX_VALUE + " | min: " + Float.MIN_VALUE  + " | memory size: " + Float.SIZE +" bit");
        System.out.println("int - max: " + Integer.MAX_VALUE + " | min: " + Integer.MIN_VALUE + " | memory size: " + Integer.SIZE +" bit");
        System.out.println("double - max: " + Double.MAX_VALUE + " | min: " + Double.MIN_VALUE  + " | memory size: " + Double.SIZE +" bit");
        System.out.println("short - max: " + Short.MAX_VALUE + " | min: " + Short.MIN_VALUE + " | memory size: " + Short.SIZE +" bit");
        System.out.println("double - max: " + Long.MAX_VALUE + " | min: " + Long.MIN_VALUE  + " | memory size: " + Long.SIZE +" bit");
        System.out.println("byte - max: " + Byte.MAX_VALUE + " | min: " + Byte.MIN_VALUE + " | memory size: " + Byte.SIZE +" bit");
}

Various types can store values that would be too big for others.
Also memory usage may be a reason to take one type over another.

[lina]

Thanks lot wim DC.