How many bits is the long data type in Java?

Java MCQ: How many bits is the long data type in Java?

Answer:

Explanation:

The long data type in Java is a 64-bit signed integer. It is used when you need a range of values wider than those provided by int. The long data type has a range from -2⁶³ to 2⁶³-1, which is significantly larger than the range of an int, which is 32 bits. This makes long suitable for large integer calculations that require more space than int can provide.

The long type is often used in applications dealing with large amounts of data, such as in financial calculations, or when you need to work with timestamps or counters that exceed the 32-bit int limit. For example:

long largeNumber = 123456789012345L;
System.out.println(largeNumber); // Outputs: 123456789012345

In this example, the long variable largeNumber holds a very large integer value that would not fit in an int. The use of L at the end of the number indicates that it is a long literal.

It’s important to note that arithmetic operations on long types can be slower than on int types due to the larger size, but the benefit of the extended range often outweighs the performance cost in situations where int is insufficient. Understanding when to use long versus int is essential for optimizing both performance and memory usage in your Java programs.

Reference links:

https://www.javaguides.net/p/java-tutorial-learn-java-programming.html