What are the differences between primitive and reference types in programming?

What are the differences between primitive and reference types in programming?

Primitive types are basic data types like numbers and strings, while reference types are objects that store references to memory.

Can you give me examples of both types?

Sure! Examples of primitive types include number, string, and boolean. Reference types include arrays, objects, and functions.

How do they behave differently in memory?

Primitive types are stored directly in the stack, while reference types are stored in the heap, with the stack holding a reference to the heap.

What happens when I assign a primitive type to a new variable?

When you assign a primitive type to a new variable, a copy of the value is created. Changes to one variable do not affect the other.

And what about reference types?

For reference types, assigning one variable to another copies the reference, so both variables point to the same object in memory.