Java Numbers

2 min read ·

Numbers in Java are divided into two main categories:
  • Integer types
  • Floating point types

Integer Types in Java

Integer types store whole numbers.
  • byte
  • short
  • int
  • long
Example:

Floating Point Types

Floating point types store decimal numbers.
  • float
  • double
Example:

Difference Between float and double

Featurefloatdouble
Size4 bytes8 bytes
PrecisionLowerHigher
Suffix RequiredfNot required
Example showing precision difference:
double gives more accurate result.

Scientific Notation in Java

Java allows writing numbers in scientific notation using e or E.
Example:
Output:
  • 1.5e2 means 1.5 × 10²
  • 2E3 means 2 × 10³

Numeric Literals

Java supports different numeric literal formats.
Decimal:
Binary:
Hexadecimal:
Complete example:

Understanding data types is essential because they control:
  • Memory usage
  • Performance
  • Type safety
  • Program correctness
These concepts form the foundation of all Java programming.