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Primitive data type

As explained in Code Like a Pro in Rust

A primitive type is a built-in Rust type representing a basic kind of value rather than a composition of other types.

Primitive data types are Rust’s built-in representations of basic values, including numeric values, bytes, characters, arrays, and tuples. They form the foundation beneath structs, enums, and type aliases. section 4.5 section 4.5.1

Use the primitive families according to their representation and operational constraints:

  • Choose signed or unsigned integers with explicit widths from 8 through 128 bits, such as i32 or u64. section 4.5.1
  • Use usize and isize for platform-dependent sizes; standard-library length parameters commonly use usize. section 4.5.1
  • Rely on checked arithmetic by default, or select checked and wrapping operations when the desired overflow behavior is explicit. section 4.5.1

Typed literals and representations

Rust permits literal suffixes and base prefixes: 0u8, 0b1u16, 0o2u32, 0x3u64, 4u128, and b’A’. Measuring these values demonstrates widths from one to sixteen bytes, while the prefixes preserve binary, octal, hexadecimal, and byte-literal intent.

How Code Like a Pro in Rust covers it

How deep it goes
Explains primitive categories, integer widths, literal notation, platform sizes, and arithmetic behavior, without exhaustive language-reference coverage.
Examples
Demonstrates typed integer literals, numeric bases, byte literals, memory sizes, division-by-zero panics, checked division, and wrapping arithmetic.
What it assumes
Assumes basic Rust syntax while teaching primitive categories, literal notation, platform sizes, and checked arithmetic.
What you can do after
Apply it via Rust’s type annotations and arithmetic methods to select representations and make overflow behavior explicit.
How it connects
Connects primitive types with structs, enums, type aliases, arrays, tuples, arithmetic, standard-library lengths, and C interoperability.
Cover of Code Like a Pro in Rust
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This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Code Like a Pro in Rust. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.