Primitive test

[Srinivasa Raghavan]

Hi,
Can any one please let me know why compile time error is not generated when a long is assigned to a float ? Float is of size 32 bits but long is of size 64 bits.

[Annette Sovereign]

Hi there,

This is to do with primitive widening conversion (google-whack it).

You only lose precision (i.e. lose significant bits) and in Java, that's acceptable.


Hope this helps.

AO

[Santana Iyer]

float is 32 bits and long is 64 bits but
storage mechanism is not same

try
System.out.print(Float.MAX_VALUE);
System.out.print(Long.MAX_VALUE);

or

float f=Long.MAX_VALUE;
System.out.println(f); // exponent is 18
System.out.println(Float.MAX_VALUE); // exponent is 38

float uses IEEE754 storage mechanism hence can store number larger in magnitude than long.

word magnitude is more important.
hope this helps and correct me if I am wrong
bye.