The main difference between various numeric data types lies in their range and precision. Different numeric types can represent numbers with varying sizes and levels of detail due to their underlying storage allocation.
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Integer Types: These represent whole numbers (e.g.,
int,long,short). They typically have fixed sizes (e.g., 32-bit, 64-bit) and can represent positive and negative values within a certain range. -
Floating-Point Types: These represent real numbers and can include decimals (e.g.,
float,double,decimal). They vary in precision; for example,floatgenerally offers less precision thandouble, whiledecimalis often used for financial calculations requiring high precision and accuracy. -
Fixed vs. Variable Precision: Some types have fixed precision (like
decimal), while others (likefloatanddouble) can represent numbers with varying levels of accuracy depending on the magnitude of the number.
In summary, the key differences are the type of values they can represent (whole numbers vs. fractions), their size (e.g., number of bits), and their precision or accuracy.
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