Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2211 D684 Introduction to Computer Science Practice Test

The type of variable that represents a whole number in computer programming is known as an integer. Integers are used primarily for counting, indexing, and performing arithmetic operations where fractional values are not required. In programming languages, integers are defined to handle numerical data without any decimal points, making them distinct from types like float, which are used for representing numbers with fractional parts.

Integers serve a critical role in various programming tasks, including loops, conditions, and array indexing where only whole number values make logical sense. This makes them fundamental to computer science and programming concepts, where precision and correct data types are essential for effective computation and logic flow.

Other types of variables, such as floats, represent decimal values and can hold fractions, strings represent sequences of characters, and booleans represent true/false values, all of which do not align with the concept of representing whole numbers.