A long data type in Java can store a maximum of 19 digits. This is because long uses 64 bits to represent numbers, and 64 bits can hold a maximum of 2<sup>64</sup> different values.
Here's a breakdown:
- 64 bits: A
longuses 64 bits to store a number. - 2<sup>64</sup> values: With 64 bits, you can represent 2<sup>64</sup> distinct values.
- 19 digits: The largest value a
longcan hold is approximately 9.223372036854775807 * 10<sup>18</sup>, which has 19 digits.
Example:
long bigNumber = 9223372036854775807L; // This is the maximum value a long can hold.Practical Insights:
- Overflow: If you attempt to store a value larger than the maximum value of a
long, it will overflow, resulting in an incorrect value. - Large Numbers:
longis ideal for storing large numbers, such as population counts, financial transactions, or scientific calculations.
Solutions:
BigInteger: If you need to work with numbers larger than the maximum value of along, use theBigIntegerclass, which can handle arbitrarily large numbers.
