Overflow and Underflow in Java

In Java, overflow can be defined as a situation when the result generated of an arithmetic operation that is performed on a numeric data type surpasses the range of that specific data type. Various numeric data types are supported by Java and they are of integer( byte, short, int, long) and floating-point numbers( float, double).

Whereas Underflow in Java can be defined as a situation where the result generated of an arithmetic operation that is performed on a numeric data type is smaller than the minimum value of that data type.

Let's understand in detail about both overflow and underflow in the following lines.

Overflow in Java

As discussed earlier, overflow in Java can be defined as a situation when the result generated of an arithmetic operation that is performed on a numeric data type surpasses the range of that specific data type. Let us understand in detail about overflow.

1. Integer Overflow

A determined number of bits are used by Java for representing the values of integer data type. For example, 32 bits are used by Java for representing an int variable. Whereas the range for representation of signed integers in Java can be defined from Integer.MIN_VALUE till Integer.MAX_VALUE.

Whenever the size of the result generated by an arithmetic operation surpasses the maximum value that can be represented (Integer.MAX_VALUE), Integer overflow occurs in Java.

Filename: IntegerOverFlowExample.java

// Java program to demonstrate the Integer Overflow condition in Java.
import java.util.*;
import java.io.*;
public class IntegerOverFlowExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declaring an int variable and assigning the value of Maximum Integer Value to it.
        int max_Integer = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
        // For acheiving the Integer Overflow condition, adding 1 value to the int variable.
        // int variable cannot store above the Integer.MAX_VALUE, so it will cause Integer Overflow.
        int overflow_Integer = max_Integer + 1;

        // Printing the values stored in original and overflowed int variables.
        System.out.print("MAXIMUM VALUED INTEGER: ");
        System.out.println(max_Integer);
        System.out.print("OVERFLOW INTEGER Value: ");
        System.out.println(overflow_Integer);
    }
}

Output:

MAXIMUM VALUED INTEGER: 2147483647
OVERFLOW INTEGER Value: -2147483648

2. Long Overflow

Just like integer variables, long variables too have a range for representation in Java which lies between Long.MIN_VALUE to Long.MAX_VALUE.

Similar to Integer overflow, whenever the size of the result generated by an arithmetic operation of long variable surpasses the maximum value that can be represented (Long.MAX_VALUE), or goes below the minimum value that can be represented (Long.MIN_VALUE), Long overflow occurs in Java.

Filename: LongOverflowExample.java

// Java program for demonstrating the occurence of Long Overflow in Java
import java.util.Scanner;
public class LongOverflowExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.println("Long Overflow in Java");
        // Declaration and initialization of long variable with maximum value of Long.
        long maxLong = Long.MAX_VALUE;
        // Taking input from user for addition of value to maximum value.
        System.out.print("Input the value to be added to Long variable ");
        long newValue = getUserInputLong(sc);
        // Trying to Overflow the long variable by adding
        try {
            long result = Math.addExact(maxLong, newValue);
            // Printing the original Long max value variable.
            System.out.println("Maximum Valued Long Value: " + maxLong);
            // Printing the result.
            System.out.println("Result: " + result);
        } catch (ArithmeticException e) {
            // Exception Handling regarding Overflow situation
            System.out.println("Long Overflow occurred! Result cannot be Displayed.");
        }

        sc.close();
    }
    private static long getUserInputLong(Scanner sc) {
        while (!sc.hasNextLong()) {
            System.out.println("Invalid input. Enter a long integer.");
            sc.next();
        }
        return sc.nextLong();
    }
}

Output:

Long Overflow in Java
Input the value to be added to Long variable:
12321321
Long Overflow occurred! Result cannot be Displayed.

3. Floating-point Overflow

Just like integer variables, floating-point variables too have a range for representation in Java which lies between Float.MIN_VALUE to Float.MAX_VALUE.

Similar to Integer overflow, whenever the size of the result generated by an arithmetic operation of floating-point variable surpasses the maximum value that can be represented (Float.MAX_VALUE), or goes below the minimum value that can be represented (Float.MIN_VALUE), Float overflow occurs in Java.

Filename: FloatOverflowExample.java

// Java program for demonstrating Floating-point overflow in Java
import java.util.Scanner;
public class FloatOverflowExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.println("Demonstration of Floating-point Overflow in Java");
        // Declaration and assignment of maximum float value to a float variable.
        float max_Float = Float.MAX_VALUE;
        // Taking input from user and that value gets multiplied by maximum float value.
        System.out.print("Input a float value to multiply the maximum float value: ");
        float userFloat = getInput(sc);
        // Trying to Float overflow by multiplying user input with maximum float value.
        float float_Overflow = max_Float * userFloat;
        // Printing the original maximum float value.
        System.out.println("Maximum Float Value: " + max_Float);
        // Printing the float overflowed Value.
        System.out.println("Overflowed Float Value: " + float_Overflow);
        sc.close();
    }
    private static float getInput(Scanner sc) {
        while (!sc.hasNextFloat()) {
            System.out.println("Invalid input. Please Input a float value.");
            sc.next();
        }
        return sc.nextFloat();
    }
}

Output:

Demonstration of Floating-point Overflow in Java
Input a float value to multiply the maximum float value: 1.2651651651
Maximum Float Value: 3.4028235E38
Overflowed Float Value: Infinity

Underflow in Java

In Java, Underflow can be defined as a scenario where the result generated of an arithmetic operation that is performed on a numeric data type is smaller than the minimum value of that data type. Let us understand about types of underflows in Java.

1. Integer Underflow

As discussed earlier, a determined number of bits are used by Java for representing the values of integer data type. For example, 32 bits are used by Java for representing an int variable. Whereas the range for representation of signed integers in Java can be defined from Integer.MIN_VALUE till Integer.MAX_VALUE.

Whenever the size of the result generated by an arithmetic operation goes below the minimum value that can be represented (Integer.MIN_VALUE), Integer underflow occurs in Java.

Filename: IntegerUnderflowExapmle.java

// Java program for demonstrating the Integer underflow situation in Java.
import java.util.*;
import java.io.*;
public class IntegerUnderflowExapmle {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declaring and initializing and integer variable with the minimum integer
        // value.
        int minimum_Int = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
     // Trying to underflow the int variable by subtracting the minimum value with 1.
        int underFlowInt = minimum_Int - 1;
        // Printing the minimum integer value.
        System.out.println("Minimum Integer Value: " + minimum_Int);
        // Printing the underflowed integer value.
        System.out.println("Underflowed Integer Value: " + underFlowInt);
        System.out.println("Explanation: In 2's complement representation, integer underflow wraps around.");
    }
}

Output:

Minimum Integer Value: -2147483648
Underflowed Integer Value: 2147483647
Explanation: In 2's complement representation, integer underflow wraps around.

2. Long Underflow

Whenever the size of the result generated by a long arithmetic operation goes below the minimum value that can be represented (Long.MIN_VALUE), Long underflow occurs in Java.

Filename: LongUnderFlowExample.java

// Java program for demonstrating the long underflow situation in Java.
import java.util.*;
import java.io.*;
public class LongUnderFlowExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declaring and initializing and long variable with the minimum integer
        // value.
        long minimumLong = Long.MIN_VALUE;
  // Trying to underflow the long variable by subtracting the minimum value with
        // 1.
        long Underflowed_long = minimumLong - 1;
        // Printing the minimum long value.
        System.out.println("Minimum Long Value: " + minimumLong);
        // Printing the underflowed long value.
        System.out.println("Underflowed Long Value: " + Underflowed_long);
        System.out.println("Explanation: In 2's complement representation, long underflow wraps around.");
    }
}

Output:

Minimum Long Value: -9223372036854775808
Underflowed Long Value: 9223372036854775807
Explanation: In 2's complement representation, long underflow wraps around.

3. Floating-point Underflow

Just like integer variables, floating-point variables too have a range for representation in Java which lies between Float.MIN_VALUE to Float.MAX_VALUE.

Similar to Integer underflow, whenever the size of the result generated by an arithmetic operation of floating-point variable goes below the minimum value that can be represented (Float.MIN_VALUE), Float underflow occurs in Java.

Filename: FloatingPointUnderflow.java

/* Java program for demonstrating the long underflow situation in Java. */
import java.util.*;
import java.io.*;
public class FloatingPointUnderflow {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declaring and initializing and float variable with the minimum integer
        // value.        
        float minFloat = Float.MIN_NORMAL;
        // Trying to underflow the float variable by dividing the minimum value with user input.
        System.out.print("Input a float value to divide the minimum float: ");
        float floatDivide = getFloatInput();
        // Trying to underflow the int variable by subtracting the minimum value with 1.
        float underFlowedFlaot = minFloat / floatDivide;
        // Printing the minimum float value.
        System.out.println("Minimum Floating-point Value: " + minFloat);
        // Printing the underflowed float value.
        System.out.println("Underflowed Value: " + underFlowedFlaot);
    }
    private static float getFloatInput() {
        java.util.Scanner sc = new java.util.Scanner(System.in);
        float userInput = sc.nextFloat();
        sc.close();
        return userInput;
    }
}

Output:

Input a float value to divide the minimum float: 1.5265
Minimum Floating-point Value: 1.17549435E-38
Underflowed Value: 7.700585E-39

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Overflow and Underflow in Java

Overflow in Java

1. Integer Overflow

2. Long Overflow

3. Floating-point Overflow

Underflow in Java

1. Integer Underflow

2. Long Underflow

3. Floating-point Underflow

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