1.3.1
Data Types
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Data Types
Every piece of data that is stored has a type. The type determines how it is stored and what you can do with the data.
Integer
- Integers are whole numbers.
- E.g. 12
- E.g. 0
- E.g. -142
Float
- Floats are fractional numbers.
- E.g. 0.42
- E.g. 1.00
String
- Strings are text data.
- E.g. "Hello, world!"
- E.g. "07123 456 789"
Boolean
- A True or False value.
- Examples:
- True.
- False.
Casting
Casting is the process of converting data from one type to another.
Reasons for casting
- One of the most common reasons for casting is output.
- Output must be formatted as a string, and so we may need to convert a certain piece of data to a string.
- All input also comes as a string, and must then be converted to other data types.
Casting functions
- Casting to a string can be done using the str function. E.g:
- str(3) gives "3".
- Casting to an integer can be done using the int function. E.g:
- int(3.4) gives 3.
- Casting to a float can be done using the float function. E.g:
- float("3.4") gives 3.4.
Type Coercion
Type coercion allows us to operate on data of different types.
Type coercion
- Usually, attempting to use data of different types in an operation (e.g. adding two numbers of different types) will cause an error.
- Type coercion allows one of the types to be automatically cast so that the operation can be completed.
Integers and floats
- When working with a float and an integer, the final result will become a float.
- E.g: 3 + 2.5 = 5.5
Strings and integers
- Python does not automatically coerce integers to strings when using +.
- "Number = " + 3
- TypeError: can only concatenate str (not "int") to str
- "Number = " + str(3)
1Introduction to Python
1.1Python
1.2Input & Output
1.3Data Types
1.4Variables & Constants
1.6Program Flow
2Data Structures
2.1Lists & Strings
2.2File Handling
3Modularity
3.1Subroutines
3.2Data Flow
4Good Practice
4.1Naming & Whitespace
4.2Comments
4.3Exceptions
Jump to other topics
1Introduction to Python
1.1Python
1.2Input & Output
1.3Data Types
1.4Variables & Constants
1.6Program Flow
2Data Structures
2.1Lists & Strings
2.2File Handling
3Modularity
3.1Subroutines
3.2Data Flow
4Good Practice
4.1Naming & Whitespace
4.2Comments
4.3Exceptions
Practice questions on Data Types
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1
- 2Which of these data are strings?True / false
- 3
- 4What is one of the most common reasons for casting?Multiple choice
- 5
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