← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

STRING data type

The data type for text: zero or more characters written between double quotes, such as "This is a string". "" is the empty string and "123" is text, not a number.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 8.1a Data Types and Variables — Module 17

Understanding STRING data type in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: The double quotes mark the start and end of the STRING value being assigned. The Cambridge data type for text is STRING. TEXT is not a Cambridge pseudocode data type. A STRING can hold zero or more characters, so "" is a valid STRING called the empty string. 4096 without quotes is an INTEGER, which doesn't match a STRING variable. "4096" is a STRING.

Common mistakes: A STRING literal must start and end with double quotes. The closing quote is missing after Hi. It should be OUTPUT "Hi ", Name. TEXT is not a Cambridge pseudocode data type. The data type for text is STRING, so the line should be DECLARE Pet : STRING.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 317–326) and word search (Modules 317–336).

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Learning

Duo

Which is a valid STRING literal in Cambridge pseudocode?

'Hello World'"Hello World"

Matches

Name ← Sam

↓

The text has no double quotes, so it is not a STRING literal. It should be Name ← "Sam".

Applying

Meanings

Term

STRING

Meaning

The data type for text: zero or more characters written between double quotes, such as "This is a string". "" is the empty string and "123" is text, not a number.

Practice

DECLARE Greeting : STRING

Testing

Gaps

DECLARE UserName :

Check Answer

Spots

2Name ← "Ava"

3OUTPUT "Hi , Name

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Quick Questions

1. Which is a valid STRING literal in Cambridge pseudocode?

A. 'Hello World'

B. "Hello World" ✓

STRING values are written between double quotes. Single quotes are used for CHAR values, and only for one character.

2. Which line correctly declares a variable to store a person's name?

A. DECLARE Name : STRING ✓

B. DECLARE Name : TEXT

The Cambridge data type for text is STRING. TEXT is not a Cambridge pseudocode data type.

3. What is "" in pseudocode?

A. The empty string, a STRING with zero characters ✓

B. An error, because a STRING must have at least one character

A STRING can hold zero or more characters, so "" is a valid STRING called the empty string.

4. What is the data type of "123"?

A. STRING, because it is in double quotes ✓

B. INTEGER, because it only contains digits

Anything inside double quotes is a STRING, so "123" is text. You cannot use it in calculations as a number.

5. What is the data type of "A"?

A. CHAR, because it is one character long

B. STRING, because it uses double quotes ✓

A CHAR literal is written in single quotes, like 'A'. A one-character value in double quotes is still a STRING.

Match the Pairs

DECLARE Name : STRING → Creates a variable that can store text made of zero or more characters

Text ← "" → Stores the empty string, which has zero characters, in Text

A STRING literal is written between double quotes → Greeting ← "Hello, Sam"

Digits inside double quotes are text, not a number, so they are a STRING → Code ← "123"

Name ← Sam → The text has no double quotes, so it is not a STRING literal. It should be Name ← "Sam".

DECLARE Pin : INTEGER Pin ← "1234" → "1234" is a STRING because of the double quotes, so it cannot be assigned to an INTEGER variable. Declare Pin as STRING or assign 1234.

Key Term

STRING

The data type for text: zero or more characters written between double quotes, such as "This is a string". "" is the empty string and "123" is text, not a number.

Fill in the Blanks

1. DECLARE UserName : STRING

Hint: Type the data type used for a sequence of characters such as a name.

2. DECLARE Message : STRING Message ← ""

Hint: Type the name of the variable declared on the line above, which is being set to a string with zero characters.

3. DECLARE PhoneNumber : STRING PhoneNumber ← "0123456789"

Hint: Phone numbers are text, not numbers to calculate with. Type the data type that suits them.

4. DECLARE Word : STRING Word ← "A"

Hint: Type the keyword that creates a variable before its name and data type.

5. DECLARE Reply : STRING Reply ← "123"

Hint: Type the assignment operator that stores the text value in the variable.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A DECLARE Name : STRING

B Name ← "Ava"

C OUTPUT "Hi , Name

Line C — A STRING literal must start and end with double quotes. The closing quote is missing after Hi. It should be OUTPUT "Hi ", Name.

Question 2

A DECLARE Pet : TEXT

B Pet ← "Cat"

C OUTPUT Pet

Line A — TEXT is not a Cambridge pseudocode data type. The data type for text is STRING, so the line should be DECLARE Pet : STRING.

Question 3

A DECLARE Pin : STRING

B Pin ← "1234"

C DECLARE Next : STRING

D Next ← 5678

Line D — Next is a STRING variable, so it must be given text in double quotes. 5678 without quotes is an INTEGER. It should be Next ← "5678".

Question 4

A DECLARE Name : STRING

B INPUT Name

C IF Name = "" THEN

D Name ← Guest

E ENDIF

Line D — Text must be written in double quotes. Without them, Guest looks like an identifier, not a STRING value. It should be Name ← "Guest".

Question 5

A DECLARE Age : INTEGER

B Age ← "15"

C OUTPUT Age + 1

Line B — "15" in double quotes is a STRING, which is text and not a number. Age is an INTEGER, so it needs the number 15 with no quotes: Age ← 15.

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