What does widening of types do in data conversion?

Widening of types in data conversion refers to the process of converting a smaller primitive data type to a larger primitive data type to accommodate a broader range of values. For instance, if you convert an int type, which can hold a range of values between -2,147,483,648 and 2,147,483,647, to a long type, which can represent a much larger range of values, you are allowing the program to store integers that exceed the capacity of the original data type. This is crucial in programming when a value may exceed the limits defined by a smaller type, thereby preventing potential overflow errors and data loss.

This concept is particularly important when dealing with numerical calculations where the outcome might exceed the limits of the original variable's type. By widening types, Java helps programmers ensure data integrity and offers flexibility in handling larger datasets.