Data Types & Memory: How Computers Store Information

Data Types: Containers with Rules

A data type tells the computer how to interpret bits.

The bits 01000001 could mean:

• The number 65 (integer)
• The letter 'A' (character)
• Part of a decimal 65.0 (float)

Same bits, different meaning. Data types are the label on the container that says "interpret these bits as a number" or "...as text."