Question

Write statements that do the following: a) Declare a char variable named letter. b) Assign the letter \(A\) to the letter variable. c) Display the contents of the letter variable.

Short answer

Answer: The three steps involved are: 1. Declaring a char variable, for example: char letter; 2. Assigning a value to the char variable, for example: letter = 'A'; 3. Displaying the contents of the char variable using appropriate print statements as per the programming language. For example, System.out.println(letter) in Java or cout << letter in C++.

Step-by-step solution

Declaring a char variable named letter

In most common programming languages, to declare a variable we need to specify the type of the variable and the name we want the variable to have. Since this problem asks for a character variable, we need to mention char before the name of the variable. Here is how you can do it: char letter;

Assign the letter \(A\) to the letter variable

Once you have a char variable declared, you can assign a value to it using the assignment operator (=). In this case, 'letter' is the variable and the value to be assigned is 'A'. Here is how to do it: letter = 'A'; In programming, character values are enclosed in single quotes.

Display the contents of the letter variable

After assigning a value to a declared variable, it may be necessary to display or print out its content. Depending on the programming language, the method of doing this varies. For instance, in C++ or Java, you can use a print statement such as System.out.print in Java and cout in C++. Here is how to do it in Java: System.out.println(letter); And here it is in C++: cout << letter;

Key concepts

char data type

In Java, the `char` data type is used to store simple characters. A character is any symbol that can be typed on a keyboard, like letters, digits, or punctuation. The char data type is special because it represents single 16-bit Unicode characters, allowing it to handle a vast array of global alphabets and symbols. For example, using the `char` data type, one can store any letter, such as `A`, or any digit like `1` that can be represented as a character.

It's important to remember that character values in Java must be enclosed in single quotes, such as 'A', '9', or even a special character like '$'. Using single quotes distinguishes a `char` from other data types, helping the compiler understand that these are individual characters. Knowing when and how to use the `char` type is fundamental for working with characters and strings in Java.

Here is a simple example using the `char` type:
`char exampleChar = 'x';`
This declaration signifies that `exampleChar` is a variable designed to store a single character 'x'.

variable declaration

Variable declaration is like giving a name to a specific data storage in your program. By declaring a variable, you inform the program of the kind of data and reserve space in memory for it. In Java, declaring a variable involves stating the data type, followed by the variable's name, and ending with a semicolon. This tells the program how much storage is needed and what type of data it will be handling.

For instance, to declare a character variable named `letter` in Java, you would write:

• `char letter;`

This line tells Java that `letter` will store a simple character. Declaring variables is a crucial step because it helps in organizing data and managing resources efficiently.

Proper declaration assists in preventing errors and makes sure that the variable is ready to be used elsewhere in your code.

assignment operator

The assignment operator, represented by the `=` symbol, plays a key role in programming. It is used to assign values to variables. This operator signifies that the value on its right is to be assigned to the variable on its left. Think of it like filling a container with a specific item. The container is the variable, and the item is the value you are assigning.

Here's how it works in our example:

• `letter = 'A';`

In this case, the `letter` variable is being filled with the character 'A'. Remember, when using a `char` type, the character must be within single quotes. This simple action of assigning values is what makes variables useful, as they can dynamically represent and store different values throughout a program.

output statement

An output statement in Java is used to present data to a user, commonly via a console. When you want to display the value of a variable, you utilize an output statement to make it visible on the screen.

In Java, the most common way to achieve this is by using `System.out.println()`. This function displays the values inside the parentheses on the console, followed by a new line. Using `System.out.print()` is similar, but does not add a line break afterward.

For instance, if you wish to print the value of `letter`, you would write:

• `System.out.println(letter);`

This instruction will output whatever is stored in the `letter` variable to the console. Output statements are essential for debugging and user interaction, offering a way to see the outcome of operations in the runtime environment.