Pascal: Data Types

Pascal Variables and Data Types
Variables store values and information. They allow programs to perform calculations and store data for later retrieval. Variables store numbers, names, text messages, etc.

Pascal supports FOUR standard variable types, which are

integer
char
boolean
real

integer
Integer variables store whole numbers, ie, no decimal places. Examples of integer variables are,

        34       6458     -90    0      1112

char
Character variables hold any valid character which is typed from the keyboard, ie digits, letters, punctuation, special symbols etc. Examples of characters are,

   XYZ   0ABC   SAM_SAID.GET;LOST  [ ] { } = + \ | % & ( ) * $

boolean
Boolean variables, also called logical variables, can only have one of two possible states, true or false.

real
Real variables are positive or negative numbers which include decimal places. Examples are,

     34.265   -3.55  0.0   35.997E+11

Here, the symbol E stands for 'times 10 to the power of'

Types integer, char and boolean are called ORDINAL types. This is because they have a limited, specified range of values.