What does "short" mean in programming?
short is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A 16-bit integer type that holds values from -32,768 to 32,767. Shorts use less memory than ints and are useful when working with compact data formats or hardware registers.
Example
"short port = 8080; // port numbers fit in a 16-bit short"
Related terms
Ready to practice your English at work?
Lingua-e has interactive exercises built around real developer conversations: standups, code reviews, retrospectives, and more. Practice until it comes naturally.
Try Lingua-e for free