What are the data types in JavaScript?

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Primitive Data Types
  • 1. String
  • 2. Number
  • 3. Boolean
  • 4. Undefined
  • 5. Null
  • 6. Symbol (ES6)
  • 7. BigInt (ES11)
• Object Data Types
  • 1. Object
  • 2. Array
  • 3. Function
• Conclusion

Introduction

JavaScript supports a variety of data types that enable developers to work with different kinds of values. Understanding these data types is essential for effective programming in JavaScript. They are broadly categorized into two groups: primitive types and object types.

Primitive Data Types

Primitive data types are the most basic types of data in JavaScript. They are immutable and represent a single value.

1. String

• Represents a sequence of characters.

• Created by enclosing characters in single or double quotes.

  Example:

2. Number

• Represents both integer and floating-point numbers.

• JavaScript does not differentiate between different types of numbers (e.g., integer vs. float).

  Example:

3. Boolean

• Represents a logical entity and can have two values: true or false.

  Example:

4. Undefined

• A variable that has been declared but has not yet been assigned a value is of type undefined.

  Example:

5. Null

• Represents the intentional absence of any object value. It is often used to indicate that a variable is empty.

  Example:

6. Symbol (ES6)

• Represents a unique and immutable value primarily used as object property keys.

  Example:

7. BigInt (ES11)

• Represents whole numbers larger than the maximum safe integer (2^53 - 1). It allows for the representation of large integers.

  Example:

Object Data Types

Object data types are more complex and can hold collections of values and more complex entities.

1. Object

• The most fundamental data structure in JavaScript, used to store keyed collections of various data types.

  Example:

2. Array

• A special type of object used to store ordered collections of values.

  Example:

3. Function

• Functions are first-class objects in JavaScript and can be stored in variables, passed as arguments, and returned from other functions.

  Example:

Conclusion

JavaScript has a rich set of data types, including both primitive types (such as strings, numbers, booleans, null, and undefined) and object types (such as objects, arrays, and functions). Understanding these data types is crucial for effective programming and helps developers manage and manipulate data efficiently in their applications.