Data Types

Let’s learn about data types in this lesson.

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Overview

Data types play an important part in a system. They’re used to encapsulate and transmit information. In particular, when we discuss software systems, it’s important to make sure that types shared by different systems are known to all of those systems. The knowledge of data types and formats is, in fact, a form of coupling.

Think about the many languages of the world. If we have to talk to an audience, we have to use a language that they understand. This couples us with our audience. This course is in English, which means we’re coupled with English-speaking readers. If all English speakers in the world suddenly decide that they don’t want to use English anymore and replace it with Italian, we then need to redesign this course from scratch (though, admittedly, with less effort).

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