Basic Types in Scala

Basically a Scala program describes the interaction between objects which interchange the messages. For example things like numbers, character and strings etc. are objects that can interact with other objects or similar types of objects.

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Objects with no internal structure that is with no components are said to be of a basic type.

Table: Basic types in Scala

When declaring a variable or a constant use keyword var or the keyword val then the name of a variable or a constant, an equals sign (i.e., the symbol =) and then the value the variable or the constant. Also you can wite:

scala> val i : Byte = 32

i: Byte = 32

If the value does not agree with the type then a type error is occurred.

scala> var x=30

x: Int = 30

An integer literal that is suffixed by an L or an l is assumed to be of type Long:

scala> var x=3l

x: Long = 3

Numbers can be written as decimal, octal or hexadecimal numerals. Octal numbers can be written by adding prefix 0:

scala> 0755

res0: Int = 493

Hexadecimal numbers can be written by adding prefix 0x or 0X:

scala> 0x2009

res1: Int = 8201

A floating point number contains an integral part and an optional decimal point which is represented by a period character that may be followed by an optional fractional part, an optional exponent and an optional type suffix. The exponent is started with either the letter E or e.

The letters f and F represents a single precision floating point number whereas the letters d and D represents a double precision floating point number:

scala> 20.11

res4: Double = 20.11

scala> 15.2E10

res4: Double = 15.5E10

A character must be enclosed in single quotation marks:

scala> var a = ‘i’

a: Char = ‘i’

You cannot assign to a character variable a single quotation mark because it gives error. To solve this problem escape sequence is used which is started with /.

Table: Escape Sequence

A String is a sequence of Chars that is enclosed in double quotes:

scala> "Scala"

res6: java.lang.String = Scala

The literals true and false denote truth and untruth, respectively. These literals are the only values of type Boolean:

scala> val T = true

T: Boolean = true

Unit Type contains only one value which is designated by two parentheses:

scala> var x = ()

x: Unit = ()