Which of the following is an example of a data type?

An integer is indeed a fundamental example of a data type in programming and computer science. A data type defines the kind of data that can be stored and manipulated within a program, essentially setting the constraints on what kind of operations can be performed with that data.

An integer specifically represents whole numbers, which can be positive, negative, or zero. This makes integers suitable for mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, and so forth.

In contrast, the other options do not classify as data types. A loop is a control structure used to repeat a block of code, a variable is a symbolic name associated with a value that can change, and an algorithm is a set of instructions designed to perform a specific task. These concepts are important in programming and computer science, but they do not represent categories of data in the way that an integer does.