Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Primitive data type
open-in-new
<p>In <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a>, primitive data types are a set of basic <a href="/facts/Data_type/fcx5hgVL">data types</a> from which all other data types are constructed. Specifically it often refers to the limited set of data representations in use by a particular <a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">processor</a>, which all compiled programs must use. Most processors support a similar set of primitive data types, although the specific representations vary. More generally, <i>primitive data types</i> may refer to the standard data types built into a <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming language</a> (built-in types). Data types which are not primitive are referred to as <i>derived</i> or <a href="/facts/Composite_data_type/RBBfE1FY"><i>composite</i></a>. </p><p>Primitive types are almost always <a href="/facts/Value_type/0xLHHokA">value types</a>, but composite types may also be value types. </p>