What is the range of short data types in Java?

The range of the short data type in Java is -32,768 to 32,767.

This range is determined by the number of bits used to represent the short data type, which is 16 bits.

Here's a breakdown:

• 1 bit is used to represent the sign (positive or negative).
• 15 bits are used to represent the magnitude of the number.

This gives us a total of 2^15 = 32,768 possible positive values and 32,768 possible negative values, including zero.

Example:

short myShort = 32767; // This is the maximum value for a short
short anotherShort = -32768; // This is the minimum value for a short

Practical Insights:

• The short data type is often used when you need to store smaller integer values, such as ages, IDs, or small counts.
• Using short can save memory compared to using int, especially when dealing with large arrays or collections of numbers.
• However, it's important to be aware of the limited range of short and ensure that your values will not exceed it.