programming basics

programming basics

1. Programming languages have five main data types

   • Each data type is allocated a different amount of memory
   • using the correct data types make code more more memory efficient, robust(hard to break) and predictable

2. casting is used to change the data type

   • languages have functions that let you manually convert between data types-this is known as casting. This can be done using the int(),float()
   • its important to realise that the integer 1, the real 1.0 and the strings "1" and "1.0" are all different
   • you can also find the ASCII number of characters and vice versa using the ASC() and CHR() functions

3. the basic arithmetic operators are straightforward

   • the arithmetic operators take two value and perform a math's function on them
   • Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operators do what you'd expect
   • the exponentiation operator is used to raise a number to a power
   • the DIV operator returns the whole number part of a division and the MOD operator gives the remainder
   • these operators work on integers and real data values or a combination of the two
   • computers follow the rule BODMAS so take care when using operators to make sure your code is actually doing what you want it to

4. Assignment and comparison operators

   • the assignment operator, =,is used to assign values to constants or variables
   • the name of the constant or variable should be on the left hand side of the =
   • whatever you're assigning to it should be on the right handed side
   • comparison operators compare the expression on their left hand side to the expression on their right hand side and produce a Boolean value