How to Declare & Initialize an `int` Variable in Java?

In Java programming, declaring and initializing an int variable is a fundamental concept for storing whole numbers. To declare an integer variable named num and assign it the value 5, you typically combine these two steps into a single line of code.

The declaration process involves specifying the data type and the variable name. For an integer, the data type is int. So, to declare num, you would write: int num; This statement tells the Java compiler to reserve a space in memory for an integer value and labels that space with the name num. This variable declaration is a crucial first step in using any variable in your Java code.

Following declaration, initialization is the act of assigning an initial value to that variable. If you wanted to initialize num with the value 5 separately, you would use the assignment operator, which is the equals sign: num = 5; This assignment operation places the numerical value 5 into the memory location reserved for num.

Often, for clarity and convenience in Java coding, you will declare and initialize your integer variables on the same line. This is the most common approach for setting up an int variable with a starting value. For your specific requirement of an int variable named num with a value of 5, the syntax is straightforward: int num = 5; This single statement both declares the integer variable num and assigns it the initial value of 5, making it ready for use in your Java application. Understanding this process is key to mastering Java fundamentals and working with various data types. This variable assignment ensures your integer variable holds the correct numerical data from the start of its use.