Which data type is referred to as a whole number?

The data type referred to as a whole number is integer. Integers are commonly used in programming and data manipulation because they represent whole numbers without any fractional components. This makes them suitable for counting, indexing, and performing arithmetic operations that require exact values.

In contrast, floating-point numbers, often referred to as floats, can represent real numbers with decimal points and are used when precision is necessary for calculations involving fractions. Strings denote sequences of characters, such as words or sentences, and are often used for text manipulation rather than numerical calculations. Boolean data types represent truth values and can only be true or false, which is a fundamentally different concept from whole numbers. Understanding these distinctions is important in selecting the appropriate data type for various programming tasks and ensures data integrity.