How to: Hold More Than One Value in a Variable (Visual Basic)

A variable holds more than one value if you declare it to be of a composite data type.

Composite Data Types include structures, arrays, and classes. A variable of a composite data type can hold a combination of elementary data types and other composite types. Structures and classes can hold code as well as data.

To hold more than one value in a variable

1. Determine what composite data type you want to use for your variable.

2. If the composite data type is not already defined, define it so that your variable can use it.

   • Define a structure with a Structure Statement.

   • Define an array with a Dim Statement.

   • Define a class with a Class Statement.

3. Declare your variable with a Dim statement.

4. Follow the variable name with an As clause.

5. Follow the As keyword with the name of the appropriate composite data type.

See also

• Data Types
• Type Characters
• Composite Data Types
• Structures
• Arrays
• Objects and Classes
• Value Types and Reference Types