Overview of Primitive Types¶

Quxlang uses explicit primitive names so a declaration communicates its value category and, for most numbers, its exact width.

Numeric types¶

VAR condition BOOL := TRUE;
VAR octet BYTE := 255;
VAR signed_value I32 := 0 - 7;
VAR unsigned_value U24 := 16777215;
VAR real_value F32 := 1.5;
VAR element_count SZ := 4;

I<N> and U<N> are signed and unsigned integers with N bits. F32 and F64 are the common floating-point types. SZ and UINTPTR are pointer-sized unsigned forms. BYTE is intentionally distinct from U8.

Nonnumeric built-in types¶

VAR raw_address ADDRESS;
VAR ordering ORDER := ORDER::EQUAL;
VAR text STRING_CONSTANT := "hello";

Other built-ins include VOID, TYPE_INDEX, and NULL_TYPE. STRING_CONSTANT, CSTRING_CONSTANT, DATA_CONSTANT, and NUMERIC_CONSTANT hold read-only compile-time data rather than mutable runtime containers.

Context-dependent literal typing¶

VAR small I8 := 42;
VAR large I64 := 42;
VAR newline BYTE := '\n';
VAR absent CONST->I32 := NULL;

Numeric and string literals keep their literal identity until the surrounding declaration, call, or conversion chooses a destination type. Template patterns can also match one exact literal or bind any numeric or string literal.

Some layouts are target-dependent. An INCLUDE_IF condition must guard a nonstandard floating layout or layout-specific operation with the relevant target predicate.

Reference¶

See the Primitive Types and Literals Reference for every built-in category, arbitrary-width spellings, literal-pattern types, constant spans, and target restrictions.