title: Size of a byte in memory - Java
body: <p>I have heard mixed opinions over the amount of memory that a byte takes up in a java program.</p>
  
  <p>I am aware you can store no more than +127 in a java byte, and the <a href="http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/nutsandbolts/datatypes.html" rel="noreferrer">documentation</a> says that a byte is only 8 bits but <a href="http://www.jguru.com/faq/view.jsp?EID=13647" rel="noreferrer">here</a> I am told that it actually takes up the same amount of memory as an int, and therefore is just a Type that helps in code comprehension and not efficiency. </p>
  
  <p>Can anyone clear this up, and would this be an implementation specific issue?</p>