Data types in Python categorize or classify data items, indicating the type of value and defining which operations can be conducted on them.
In Python programming, where everything is treated as an object, data types are essentially classes, with variables serving as instances (objects) of these classes. Python includes the following standard or built-in data types in Python:
- Numeric
- Boolean
- Set
- Dictionary
- Tuple
Numeric
The numeric data type in Python encompasses values with numerical significance, such as integers, floating-point numbers, and complex numbers. These values are represented by the Python int, float, and complex classes, respectively.
Integers: Represented by the int class, integers are whole numbers, either positive or negative, without fractions or decimals. Python allows integers of arbitrary length.
Floats: Represented by the float class, floating-point numbers are real numbers with a decimal point, enabling representation of fractional values. Scientific notation can also be employed, indicated by the optional use of ‘e’ or ‘E’ followed by a positive or negative integer.
Boolean
A data type in Python with one of two built-in values: True or False. Objects equal to True are considered truthy, while those equal to False are falsy.
Additionally, non-Boolean objects can be evaluated in a Boolean context and determined to be either true or false. This data type is denoted by the bool class.
Set
One significant advantage of using a set over a list is its optimized method for quickly checking whether a particular element is present within the set. This efficiency stems from its underlying data structure, known as a hash table. However, unlike lists, sets are unordered, meaning we cannot access items using indexes.
Dictionary
Dictionaries serve as a valuable data structure in Python, mirroring real-world data arrangements where specific values correspond to given keys. Data is stored in dictionaries as key-value pairs within the Python dictionary framework.
- This data structure is mutable
- The components of dictionary were made using keys and values.
- Keys must only have one component.
- Values can be of any type, including integer, list, and tuple.
Tuple
Python tuples resemble lists in structure, but the key distinction lies in their immutability: once created, tuples cannot be altered. This characteristic renders tuples suitable for storing unmodifiable data, such as database records.
