Learn JavaScript : Data Types (Part 4)


JavaScript Data types


"Data is one of the most powerful resources in the world. So it is important to understand the data types and their creation in computer programming." (Mark Anthony Graham)

Introduction

In programming, a data type is a classification of data that defines the type of value a variable can hold. It determines the operations that can be performed on the variable, the amount of memory it occupies, and the way it is represented in the computer's memory.


Kindly study the following Parts in case you had skipped them.
  1. JavaScript Introduction
  2. JavaScript Variables
  3. Global and local scope

JavaScript is a dynamically typed language, which means that the data type of a variable is determined at runtime, not at compile-time. Data types play a crucial role in computer programming as they allow the programmer to define and manipulate different types of data. Data types are essential in programming as they provide a way to define and manage different types of data, enforce type checking, optimize program performance, ensure data compatibility, and maintain data integrity.

Uses of data types

1. Type checking: Data types enable the compiler or interpreter to check if the operations performed on a variable are valid. For example, you cannot add a string to an integer, and data types help catch these errors at compile-time or runtime.

2. Program optimization: Using the appropriate data types can improve program performance by reducing memory usage, increasing execution speed, and optimizing the use of system resources.

3. Interoperability: Data types facilitate data exchange between different programming languages and systems. By defining the data type, you can ensure that the data is compatible and can be shared between different applications and platforms.

4. Data integrity: Data types can help maintain the integrity of the data by preventing accidental modifications or loss of information. For example, a string data type ensures that the text data remains intact and does not get corrupted by other operations.

Data types in JavaScript



The above image represents the types and classification of data types that we have in JavaScript, below are it brief explanations of them, we will look into each of them in detail later on in the tutorials. 

Primitive data type 

1. Boolean: The boolean data type represents a logical value that can be either true or false.

2. Null: The null data type represents the intentional absence of any object value.

3. Undefined: The undefined data type represents the absence of a value, typically a variable that has not been assigned a value.

4. Number: The number data type represents both integer and floating-point numbers.

5. String: The string data type represents a sequence of characters enclosed in single or double quotes.

const name = 'Cyberkodes';

6. Symbol: The JavaScript ES6 introduced a new primitive data type called Symbol. Symbols are immutable (cannot be changed) and are unique. The symbol data type represents a unique identifier that is used as a key in objects. For example,

// two symbols with the same description

const value1 = Symbol('hello');
const value2 = Symbol('hello');

console.log(value1 === value2); // false

Non-primitive or object data type

1. Array: The array data type is a special type of object that represents a list of values, which can be of any data type.

2. Object: The object data type represents a collection of related data and functions that can be accessed and manipulated as a single entity.

3. Function: The function data type represents a block of code that can be invoked and executed when needed.

4. RegExp (short for "regular expression") is a powerful feature in JavaScript that allows you to match and manipulate text using patterns. Regular expressions are a sequence of characters that define a search pattern. They are often used for tasks such as searching for specific words or characters within a string, validating user input, or extracting data from text.

5. In JavaScript, the Date object is used to work with dates and times. The Date object provides a range of methods to work with dates and times, such as getting the current date and time, setting specific dates, and performing arithmetic operations on dates.

Conclusion

The data type in JavaScript is quite a lot to choose from for any kind of data-driven system you may love to develop. Do not worry if you did not get much information about them. We will dive deeper in the coming series.

Proceed to Part 5 : JavaScript Operators

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