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Data Types in C#
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There are some really good descriptions and explainations concerning data types
on the internet. However I will add my understanding and comments about
them on this website. Just in case you stumble across this page in your
search for ultimate C# knowledge.
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There are 2 data types. Value Types and Reference Types. I published a
training video that discusses these and the relation they have with the
Stack and the Heap. Check it out here.
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The trigger that prompted me to write this article is becuase I was searching
for the differences between the numeric Value Types. I was a little confused
about the difference between a decimal, integer, float, double, long,
, etc... So I thought I'd write it down. I learn best when I write
things down. All of your numberic data types are value types (watch my video,
if a value type is part of class then they are still value types, but are stored
like reference types). As well, a boolean, enum and struct are value types too.
So in my quest to decide which numeric data type to use in which situation I
discovered this table. Using it, I can take my current requirements into
consideration and use the appropriate one.
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| C# Type | .Net Framework | Signed? | Possible Values |
| sbyte | System.Sbyte | Yes | -128 to 127 |
| short | System.Int16 | Yes | -32768 to 32767 |
| int | System.Int32 | Yes | -2147483648 to 2147483647 |
| long | System.Int64 | Yes | -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807 |
| byte | System.Byte | No | 0 to 255 |
| ushort | System.Uint16 | No | 0 to 65535 |
| uint | System.UInt32 | No | 0 to 4294967295 |
| ulong | System.Uint64 | No | 0 to 18446744073709551615 |
| float | System.Single | Yes | ~ ±1.5 x 10-45 to ±3.4 x 1038 with 7 figures |
| double | System.Double | Yes | ~ ±5.0 x 10-324 to ±1.7 x 10308 with 15 or 16 figures |
| decimal | System.Decimal | Yes | ~ ±1.0 x 10-28 to ±7.9 x 1028 with 28 or 29 figures |
| char | System.Char | N/A | Any Unicode character (16 bit) |
| bool | System.Boolean | N/A | true or false |
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If you decide to use a short variable, take note that if the number exceeds
32767 an exception will happen. The trigger I refered to above was also
mostly focused on fractional numbers. I.e. numbers to the right of the
decimal point. Therefore I was and am very interested in explaining the
difference between a float, double and a decimal.
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As you can see from the table able a float is signed, meaning it can be positive
or negative and will provide us with 7 numeric values to the right of the decimal
point. A double is an exponetially larger value than the float and the decimal and
will provide us with 15-16 numeric values to right of the decimal point. The decimal,
provides us with the largest number of significant figures, being 28-29.
Therefore, if you are after the greatest amount of numeric values to the right
of the decimal, then use a decimal. However, the largest number can be stored
into the double value type.
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The sample code on this website is provided to illustrate a concept and should not be used in
applications or Web sites without proper professional consultation, as it may not illustrate
the safest coding practices. I assume no liability for incidental or consequential damages
should the sample code be used for purposes other than as intended.
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