computer science Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...

, a composite data type or compound data type is a

data type In computer science and computer programming, a data type (or simply type) is a collection or grouping of data values, usually specified by a set of possible values, a set of allowed operations on these values, and/or a representation of these ...

that consists of

programming language A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Programming languages are described in terms of their Syntax (programming languages), syntax (form) and semantics (computer science), semantics (meaning), usually def ...

scalar data type Scalar processors are a class of computer processors that process only one data item at a time. Typical data items include integers and floating point numbers. Classification A scalar processor is classified as a single instruction, single da ...

s and other composite types that may be heterogeneous and hierarchical in nature. It is sometimes called a structure or a record or by a language-specific keyword used to define one such as

struct In computer science, a record (also called a structure, struct, or compound data type) is a composite data structure a collection of fields, possibly of different data types, typically fixed in number and sequence. For example, a date could b ...

. It falls into the aggregate type classification which includes homogenous collections such as the

array An array is a systematic arrangement of similar objects, usually in rows and columns. Things called an array include: {{TOC right Music * In twelve-tone and serial composition, the presentation of simultaneous twelve-tone sets such that the ...

and

list A list is a Set (mathematics), set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of t ...

References

{{Data types Data types Type theory Articles with example C code Articles with example C++ code

See also

References