A categorisation of data according to how it is treated by Grasshopper. This categorisation does not necessarily follow from the contents of the data themselves. E.g. points and vectors both consist of a triplet of numbers, yet they belong to different types. Whether a number triplet is treated as a point or a vector is determined by the type it belongs to.

A piece of data always has a type and a value. For example colour would be the type, while purple would be the value.

In general, primitive types are combined to form more complex types. E.g. number is a primitive data type, but three numbers put together may form points or vectors, which then together may form more complex types still, such as breps or meshes. Where the distinction between primitive and complex types lies is largely a matter of taste and circumstance.