Difference Between `int` and `float` in C programming

Difference Between `int` and `float` Data Types in C

In C programming, int and float are two fundamental data types used for representing numbers. Here’s a detailed comparison of these two data types:

int Data Type

The int data type is used to represent integer numbers, which are whole numbers without any fractional or decimal part.

• Purpose: Represents whole numbers.
• Size: Typically 4 bytes (32 bits), but can vary.
• Range: Usually from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 (for 4-byte int).
• Example: int count = 10;

float Data Type

The float data type is used to represent floating-point numbers, which can have a fractional part.

• Purpose: Represents numbers with decimals.
• Size: Typically 4 bytes (32 bits), but can vary.
• Range and Precision: Can represent a wide range of values with about 6-7 decimal digits of precision.
• Example: float temperature = 36.6;

Key Differences

• Type of Values:
  • int: Whole numbers (e.g., -1, 0, 1).
  • float: Numbers with decimals (e.g., 3.14, -0.001).
• Memory Usage:
  • int: Typically uses 4 bytes.
  • float: Typically uses 4 bytes.
• Precision:
  • int: Exact precision for whole numbers.
  • float: Limited precision for fractional numbers, may lead to rounding errors.
• Range:
  • int: Finite range based on its size.
  • float: Wide range but with limited precision.
• Operations:
  • int: Exact arithmetic results for whole numbers.
  • float: May involve rounding errors due to limited precision.

Example Program

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    // Integer declaration
    int num1 = 10;
    int num2 = 3;
    int sum;

    // Floating-point declaration
    float float1 = 10.5;
    float float2 = 3.2;
    float floatSum;

    // Integer operations
    sum = num1 / num2;
    printf("Integer division result: %d\\n", sum);

    // Floating-point operations
    floatSum = float1 / float2;
    printf("Floating-point division result: %.2f\\n", floatSum);

    return 0;
}

This program demonstrates the use of int and float data types. It performs integer and floating-point division and prints the results, showcasing the differences between these data types.

Note:
Choose the data type based on the nature of the numbers you are working with. Use int for whole numbers and float for numbers requiring decimal precision.