Data Types in C language Data Types The data type in C defines the amount of storage allocated to variables ,the values that they can accept ,and the operation that can be performed on those variables. C is rich in data types. The verity of data type allow the programmer to select appropriate data type to satisfy the need of application as well as the needs of different machine. There are three classes of Data-Type Primary Data Type Derived Data Type User Defined Data Type Primary Data Types(Fundamental Data Types) All C compiler support five type of fundamental data type Integer int 2,768 to 32,768 Character char -128 to 127 Floating Point float 3.4e-38 to 3.4e+38 Double Precision Floating Point double 1.7e-308 to 1.7e+308 Void Data Type void(used for function when no value is to be return) Integer Type Signed Unsigned int unsigned int short int unsigned short int long int unsigned long int Character Type Signed Unsigned signed char unsigned char Float Type float double long double Void Type void It doesn't return any value Size and Range of Data-Types on a 16-bit machine Types Size Range char (or signed char) 8 -128 to 127 unsigned char 8 0 to 255 int (or signed int) 16 -32768 to 32767 unsigned int 16 0 to 65536 short int (or signed short int) 8 -128 to 127 unsigned short int 8 0 to 255 long int (or signed long int) 32 -2,147,483,648 to2,147,483,647 unsigned long int 32 0 to 4,294,967,295 float 32 3.4E - 38 to 3.4E + 38 double 64 1.7E - 308 to 1.7E + 308 long 80 3.4E _ 4932 to 1.1E + 4932 User define Data type By using a feature known as "type definition" that allows user to define an identifier that would represent a data type using an existing data type. Derived Data Type Those data types which are derived from fundamental data types are called derived data types. There are basically three derived data types . Array: A finit collection of data of same types or homogenous data type. String: An array of character type. Structure: A collection of related variables of the same or different data types. note: Details of Array, String and Structure is available separately in this site. What do you think? By this article I have tried to explain different types of data used and their ranges in C language. I hope this article will be beneficial for you. Any comment and criticize will be welcome.