What is an int in Python?

Bill 140 Published: 09/04/2024

What is an int in Python?

I'm happy to help you with that!

In Python, int is a built-in data type that represents an integer value. An integer is a whole number, either positive, negative, or zero, without a fractional part. Examples of integers include -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on.

The int data type in Python can be thought of as a primitive type, meaning it's not an object that you create yourself, but rather a basic building block of the language. When you declare a variable to be of type int, you're telling Python that you want to store an integer value in that variable.

Here are some key characteristics of integers in Python:

Whole numbers only: Integers are whole numbers, meaning they don't have a fractional part. You can't represent a fraction or a decimal value as an integer.

Signed values: Integers can be either positive, negative, or zero. For example, -123, 0, and 456 are all integers. No implicit conversion: When you assign a value to an int variable, Python won't automatically convert it to an integer if it's not already one. For example, if you try to assign a floating-point number (like 3.14) to an int variable, you'll get a ValueError.

Arithmetic operations: Integers support the usual arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as long as the result is also an integer. Comparison operators: You can use comparison operators (like ==, !=, <, > , etc.) to compare integers.

Some common scenarios where you might want to use integers in Python include:

Counting or tracking a quantity that only takes whole numbers Representing coordinates on a grid or map, which often have integer values Performing calculations that involve whole numbers, like counting the number of items in an array

When you need to represent fractional values or more complex numerical data, you might consider using other numeric types in Python, such as float (for decimal values) or complex (for complex numbers). But for many everyday uses, integers provide a solid foundation.

I hope this helps clarify what an int is in Python! Let me know if you have any further questions.

Python int example

I apologize for the misunderstanding earlier. I'll respond in English as per your request.

Python's built-in integer type is capable of handling a wide range of values, from small integers to large ones and even negative numbers. Here are some examples:

Small Integers

>>> x = 5



y = -3






z = 0






type(x)



<class 'int'>



type(y)



<class 'int'>



type(z)



<class 'int'>

In the above example, we have defined three integer variables x, y, and z with values 5, -3, and 0 respectively. As expected, their types are all 'int'.

Large Integers

Python's integers can handle very large numbers:

>>> x = 10**100



y = 10**200






type(x)



<class 'int'>



type(y)



<class 'int'>

Here, we have defined two integer variables x and y with extremely large values. Their types are still 'int', demonstrating Python's ability to handle large integers.

Negative Integers

Integers can also represent negative numbers:

>>> x = -10



y = 0






type(x)



<class 'int'>



type(y)



<class 'int'>

In this example, we have defined two integer variables x and y with values -10 and 0 respectively. As expected, their types are still 'int'.

Integer Operations

Integers support standard arithmetic operations:

>>> x = 5



y = 3






z = x + y






w = x * y






v = x / y






u = x % y






print(z)       # Output: 8






print(w)       # Output: 15






print(v)       # Output: 1.6666666666666667






print(u)       # Output: 2

In this example, we have performed various integer operations (addition, multiplication, division, and modulo) on the variables x and y. As expected, the results are integers.

These examples demonstrate Python's built-in integer type's ability to handle a wide range of values and perform standard arithmetic operations.