Java Constants

Constants in Java refer to fixed values that do not change during the execution of the program. A constant is a variable whose value cannot change once it has been assigned.

To define a variable as a constant, we just need to add the keyword “final” in front of the variable declaration.

Syntax:


final data_type = value;

Example:‍


final float pi = 3.14f;

The above statement declares the float variable “pi” as a constant with a value of 3.14f. We cannot change the value of "pi" at any point in time in the program.

Types of Constants

i) Integer Constants : It refers to sequence of digits . There are three types of integers namely decimal integer , octal integer and hexadecimal integer.


final int num1 =  225; // decimal integer begins with non zero digitfinal 
int num2 =  035; // octal integer begins with 0final 
int num3 =  0x2; // hexadecimal integer begins with "0x" or "0X"

ii) Real Constants: Integer numbers are inadequate to represent quantities that are very continuously, such as temperatures, prices, heights ,etc. These numbers are represented by fractional parts. Such numbers are called real constants.


final int num1 = 435.36;// real constants are represented by fractional parts.

iii) Single Character Constants : It contains a single character enclosed within a pair of single quote marks.‍


final char alphabet1 = 'A'; // 'A' is a single character constant enclosed with single quote.
final char num1 = '5'; // '5' is single character constant enclosed with single quote.

iv) String Constants: It contains a single character enclosed within a pair of double quote marks. Example: “hello", “2000”, “7+5”.


final String greeting = "Hello"; // "Hello" is a string constant enclosed with double quotes
final String num = "20"; // "20" is a string constant enclosed with double quotes