Arduino Data Types

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What are Data Types ??

• If you recall your basic mathematics in which we have learned about sets like Whole Numbers, Natural Number, Prime Numbers etc.
• So, in simple words, Data Types are such sets, but Data Types are different on the nature of element storing in them.
• Data type is like a place, so when we initialize our variale then we tell our compiler that our newly introduced integer is of which type.
• Is it an integer or it has decimal as well in it or its some character like A, B, C etc.
• So, we have to tell our compiler the nature of our variable and that's where Data Types are required.
• So, that's a little Introduction of Data Types, now let's have a look at Arduino Data Types:

Arduino Data Types

• Arduino Data Types are almost similar to C++ Data Types because it roughly follows the same syntax.
• So, now I am gonna discuss the most commonly used Arduino Data Types one by one:

Int - Arduino Data Types

• Int is short form for Integer.
• This Arduino Data Types can store a data of 16 Bit.
• Int data ranges from -32,768 to 32767.
• In Arduino Programmer, Int variable in initialized in several ways, which are:

int Value = 0;

int Value;

int Value1, Value2, Value3;

• You should read Arduino LED Example or How to write Arduino code where I have used the Int variable.

Char - Arduino Data Types

• char is short for character.
• This Arduino Data Type has a memory of 8 Bit or 1 byte.
• Char Data Type saves charracters like A, B, C etc.
• If you are initializing a single character then it will be in single quotes like 'A'.
• But if you are dealing with character Array then it must be enclosed in doule brackets like this "ABCD".
• When we save any character then in actual the ascii code of that character is being saved.
• For example if you save a character '1', then its not integer 1 it is a character '1' and its ascii value is 49.
• So, in that variable the value saved is 49.
• All the Serial Communication is done using this char Data Type.
• You should read How to do Arduino Serial Communication in which I have used this char variable.

Boolean - Arduino Data Types

• Boolean data type is also used quite a lot in Arduino Programming.
• Boolean is also of 8 Bit just like char and it can be either True or False, that's why we call it Boolean.
• So, we can initialize a Boolean variable as:

boolean a;

Float - Arduino Data Types

• Float is another very important Arduino Data type.
• The unique thing of Float Data Type is that we can store decimal numbers in it.
• For example I want to save 2.51 then I have to use Float because this value can't be save in Int or Char.