Key Difference – Variables vs Data Literals in Java
A computer program is a set of instructions to perform a task. It is required to store data while programming. Therefore, those data are stored in memory. These reserved memory locations are called variables. The variables should have unique names because they should be identified easily to perform mathematical or logical operations. Variables are assigned with values. Sometimes those values are fixed and will not change. Those kinds of values are called data literals. In the program, if there is a statement as int value = 5 the ‘int’ is the data type. The ‘value’ is the variable, and ‘5’ is the data literal. This article discusses the difference between variables and data literals in Java. The key difference between variables and data literals in Java is that variables are the reserved memory locations to store values with symbolic names while data literals are notations of representing fixed values in programming.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Variables in Java
3. What are Data Literals in Java
4. Similarities Between Variables and Data Literals in Java
5. Side by Side Comparison – Variables vs Data Literals in Java in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What are Variables in Java?
A variable is a place to store a value in memory. Each memory location can store a specific type of data. Java language supports eight primitive data types. They are a byte, short, int, long, boolean, float, double, and char. The data type byte is 8-bit signed two’s complement integer. It is helpful save space in large arrays because it is 4 times smaller than int. The data type short is 16-bit signed two’s complement integer. It is 2 times smaller than int. The int is a 32-bit signed two’s complement integer. It is the most common data type to store numerical values without decimal points when there is not much concern about memory. The long data type is a 64-bit signed two’s complement integer. It is used to store a wide range of numbers. The float and double are two data types to store numerical values with a decimal point. The float is 32bit and double is 64 bits. The Boolean is used to store true or false. A single character can be stored using char data type. Those are the major primitive data types in Java.
When there is a statement such as an int x; it means that the variable x can hold an integer value. It does not set aside any memory for the variable number. When there is a statement as int x =5; it means that the variable x can hold integer values and it contains value 5. The initialized value can be changed in the program later. The x value can be equalized to some other integer such as 10 later. e.g. x =10;
Each variable has unique names to identify them. They are called identifiers. The programmer should follow the rules when giving names for variables. Java is a case-sensitive language. Therefore, the variable name ‘number’ is different from ‘NUMBER’. The variable name can contain Unicode letters and digits. They cannot have spaces. Refer the below program.
Figure 01: Java program with Variables
According to the above program, x and y are variables that hold integer values. The sum is assigned to variable sum. The length and width are double variables. The multiplication is stored in the area variable which is declared as a double variable. A single character can be stored in the variable letter. It contains ‘A’. The character is placed inside single quotes.
What are Data Literals in Java?
A Data literal is a source code representation of a fixed value. The values such as 5, 4.3, true do not require any computation. Therefore, they are known as data literals. When there is a statement, double number = 20.5; the ‘double’ is the data type. The ‘number’ is the variable. The 20.5 is the data literal.
There are various types of literals. They are integer literals, floating point literals, character and string literals. Integer literals are used to initialize variables of integer data types such as byte, short, int and long. Floating point literals are used to initialize variables of data type float and double. The floating-point literal ends with f or F, it is of type float. If it ends with d or D, it is double. Writing d is optional. Character and string literals consist of Unicode characters. The character literals represent a single character while a string literal represents a set of characters. The character literals are inside the single quote. e.g. – ‘B’. The string literals are inside the double quotes. e.g.- “Programming”. Refer the below program.
Figure 02: Java program with Literals
According to the above program, the number is a variable. The integer literal in the number variable is 10. The doubleValue variable can hold a double value. The floatValue variable can hold a float. Therefore, 5.4 and 5.4f are floating point literals. The letter variable contains a character ‘B’. It is a character literal. The word variable contains a set of characters. So, it is a string literal.
What is the Similarity Between Variables and Data Literals in Java?
- Both Variables and Data Literals in Java are used in programming.
What is the Difference Between Variables and Data Literals in Java?
Variables vs Data Literals |
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| Variables are reserved memory locations that store values with symbolic names. | Data literals are source code representations of fixed values. |
| Association | |
| Variables are associated with the memory location. | Data literals are associated with fixed values that are placed inside the variables. |
Summary – Variables vs Data Literals in Java
Variables and Data literals are common terms related to programming. This article discussed the difference between variables and data literals. The difference between variables and data literals in Java is that variables are the reserved memory locations to store values with symbolic names while data literals are notations of representing fixed values in programming.
Reference:
Point, Tutorials. “Java Basic Datatypes.”, Tutorials Point, 8 Jan. 2018. Available here
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