C# Data types

Question

In this post, we are gonna explore data types in C#.

Data types in C#

• C# is a strongly-typed language.
• You must declare the type of variable that indicates the kind of values.
• Date types makes your code more maintainable and readable.

There are two data types in C#

• Value types: include  
  • Simple type (int, string, float, bool, long, char, etc)
  •  enum types, 
  • struct types, be
  • and Nullable value types.
• Reference types: include class types, interface types, delegate types, and array types.

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Value types

• When data types hold a data value within its own memory space.
• These data types are classified as value type
  • bool, 
  • byte, 
  • char, 
  • decimal, 
  • double, 
  • enum, 
  • float, 
  • int, 
  • long, 
  • sbyte, 
  • short, 
  • struct, 
  • uint, 
  • ulong, 
  • ushort.

Integer Types 

• Data type alias: int
• .Net type: System.Int32
• Size: 4 bytes
• Description: stores numbers (positive or negative) from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

Ex:

int i = 12;

unsigned integers

• Data type alias: uInt
• .Net type: System.UInt32
• Size: 4 bytes
• Description: its range from 0 to 4,294,967,295

Ex:

uint ui = 100u;

Note that you should end the value with an "F"

long Types 

This is used when int data type is not large enough to store the value.

• Data type alias: long
• .Net type: System.Int64
• Size: 64 bits
• Description: stores numbers (positive or negative) from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

Ex:

long l = 45755452222222l;

Ulong Types 

• Data type alias: long
• .Net type: System.UInt64
• Size: 64 bits unsigned integer
• Description:  its range from 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615.

Ex:

ulong ul = 45755452222222ul;

Float Types 

The precision of float is only six or seven decimal digits.

• Data type alias: float
• .Net type: System.Single
• Size: 4 bytes
• Description: stores fractional numbers from 3.4e−038 to 3.4e+038

Ex:

float f = 5.75F;

Double Types 

double variables have a precision of about 15 digits.

• Data type alias: double
• .Net type: System.Double
• Size: 8 bytes
• Description: stores fractional numbers from 1.7e−308 to 1.7e+308.

Ex:

double d = 12.3;

Boolean Types 

bool type is a result of the comparison or equality operation. bool expression can be a controlling conditional expression in the conditional statements.

• Data type alias: bool
• .Net type: System.boolean
• Description: Only take the values true or false.

Ex:

bool b = true;

Char Types 

char type must be surrounded by single quotes ' '.

The default value of the char type is \0, that is, U+0000.

• Data type alias: char
• .Net type: System.Char
• Size: 16 bits
• Description: The char data type is used to store a single character (U+0000 to U+FFFF).

Ex:

char fletter= 'A';

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Reference Type

• unlike value types, the reference type doesn't store the value directly.
• It stores the address where the value is being stored.

These types are all of the reference type

• strings
• Arrays
• Class
• Delegetes 

string Types 

char type must be surrounded by single quotes '" ". for more details, please, check String in C#

• Data type alias: string
• Description: The string is used to store a text.

Ex:

string txt = "welcome to C#";

For Arrays, you can check Working with arrays in c#

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Conclusion 

In this post, we have explored the value and reference data types in C#.

See Also

• String in C#
• String Concatenate in C#
• C# Operators
• Loops in C# for beginners
• Working with arrays in c#