Page 437 - ComputerScience_Class_11

iNtroductioN to PytHoN

data tyPeS iN PytHoN

Learning Objectives

12.1 Data Types 12.2 Numeric
12.3 Boolean 12.4 Sequence
12.5 None 12.6 Dictionary
12.7 Set 12.8 Mutable and Immutable

In the previous chapter, you learned that variables are like containers that hold data in a program. But what kind of data
can they hold? Just as in mathematics we have different types of numbers (natural, integers, real), in programming, we
have different data types. A data type is a classification that tells the Python interpreter what type of value a variable
holds and, more importantly, what operations can be performed on it.
Python is a dynamically typed language. This means you don't have to declare the data type of a variable explicitly. The
interpreter infers the type based on the value you assign. For example, if you write age = 25, Python understands age
is an integer. This makes coding faster and more flexible.
This chapter provides a detailed exploration of the fundamental built-in data types in Python, which are essential for
solving any computational problem.

12.1 DATA TYPES
A data type is a category that defines the kind of value a variable can store and the operations that can be performed
on it. It helps the computer understand how the data is represented and processed in memory. The data stored in
memory can be of many types. For example, a student roll number is stored as a numeric value and his or her address
is stored as alphanumeric characters. Python has various standard data types that are used to define the operations
possible on them and the storage method for each of them.
The following tree structure shows the various data types used in Python:

Data Types

Numeric Boolean Sequence None Dictionary Set

Integer Floating Complex String List Tuple

Data Types in Python 435