Final answer:
A data type is. Ca particular scheme for representing values with bit patterns. It defines the kind of data that can be stored and the operations that can be performed on that data.
Step-by-step explanation:
A data type is a particular scheme for representing values with bit patterns. It defines the kind of data that can be stored and the operations that can be performed on that data. In programming, you need to specify the data type of variables to ensure that the correct operations are applied to the data. For example, an integer data type can store whole numbers, while a string data type can store a sequence of characters.
Data types are used in programming languages to enable efficient storage and manipulation of data. They provide a way to allocate memory to variables based on the type of data they hold. By specifying the data type, you can ensure that the computer uses the appropriate amount of memory and performs the correct calculations.