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Byte Data Type in Java: Explanation and Usage
Table of Content:
byte
The smallest integer type is byte.The byte data type is an 8-bit signed two’s complement integer.The byte data type is useful for saving memory in large arrays.
Variables of type byte are especially useful when you’re working with a stream of data from a network or file. They are also useful when you’re working with raw binary data that may not be directly compatible with Java’s other built-in types.
Byte data type is an 8-bit signed two's complement integer
Minimum value is -128 (-2^7)
Maximum value is 127 (inclusive)(2^7 -1)
Default value is 0
Byte data type is used to save space in large arrays, mainly in place of integers, since a byte is four times smaller than an integer.
Byte variables are declared by use of the byte keyword. For example, the following declares two byte variables called d and k:
byte d, k;
Example:
byte a = 100, byte b = -50;
Variable Declaration and Variable Initialization:
Variable Declaration : To declare a variable , you must specify the data type & give the variable a unique name.
byte age;
Variable Initialization : To initialize a variable you must assign it a valid value.
age= 2 ;
Variable Declaration and Variable Initialization in two steps:
byte age; age = 20;
Example :
Save Source File Name as : ByteExample1.javaTo compile : javac ByteExample1.java
To Run : java ByteExample1
// A Java program to demonstrate byte data type class ByteExample1 { public static void main(String args[]) { byte age; age = 20; System.out.println(age); } }Output
20 press any key to continue ...
Variable Declaration and Variable Initialization in one line:
byte age = 20;
Example :
Save Source File Name as : ByteExample1.javaTo compile : javac ByteExample1.java
To Run : java ByteExample1
// A Java program to demonstrate byte data type class ByteExample1 { public static void main(String args[]) { byte age = 20; System.out.println(age); } }Output
20 press any key to continue ...
Example 2:
// Java program to demonstrate byte data type in Java class ByteExample2 { public static void main(String args[]) { byte a = 126; // byte is 8 bit value System.out.println(a+"\n"); a++; System.out.println(a+"\n"); // It overflows here because // byte can hold values from -128 to 127 a++; System.out.println(a+"\n"); // Looping back within the range a++; System.out.println(a+"\n"); } }
126 127 -128 -127 Press any key to continue . . .