Data Types (Cambridge International IGCSE Computer Science)
Exam board Cambridge International · IGCSEUpdated 2025-09-24
Spec point —
8.1.2· 2 Understand and use the basic data types
Data Types
What is a data type?
- A data type is a classification of data into groups according to the kind of data they represent
- Computers use different data types to represent different types of data in a program
- The basic data types include:
| Data type | Used for | Pseudocode | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integer | Whole numbers | INTEGER | 10, -5, 0 |
| Real | Numbers with a fractional part (decimal) | REAL | 3.14, -2.5, 0.0 |
| Character | Single character | CHAR | 'a', 'B', '6', '£' |
| String | Sequence of characters | STRING | "Hello world", "ABC", "@#!%" |
| Boolean | True or false values | BOOLEAN | True, False |
- It is important to choose the correct data type for a given situation to ensure accuracy and efficiency in the program
- Data types can be changed within a program, this is called casting
Programming data types
| Data type | Pseudocode | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Integer | Number ← 5 | number = 5 |
| Real | RealNumber ← 3.14 | realNumber = 3.14 |
| Character | FirstNameInitial ← 'a' | firstNameInitial = 'a' |
| String | Password ← "letmein" | password = "letmein" |
| Boolean | LightSensor ← True | lightSensor = True |
Worked Example Name and describe the most appropriate programming data type for each of the examples of data given. Each data type must be different
[6]
Data: 83
Data: myemail@savemyexams.co.uk
Data: True
Answers
- Data type name: Integer [1] Data type description: The number is a whole number [1]
- Data type name: String [1] Data type description: It is a group of characters [1]
- Data type name: Boolean [1] Data type description: The value is True (or could be False) [1]
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