How to: Move Data Into and Out of a Variable (Visual Basic)

Article
09/15/2021

You store a value in a variable by putting the variable name on the left side of an assignment statement.

Putting Data in a Variable

To store a value in a variable

Use the variable name on the left side of an assignment statement.

The following example sets the value of the variable alpha.
```
alpha = (beta * 6.27) / (gamma + 2.1)
```
The value generated on the right side of the assignment statement is stored in the variable.

Getting Data from a Variable

You retrieve a variable's value by including the variable name in an expression.

To retrieve a value from a variable

Use the variable name in an expression. You can use a variable anywhere you can use a constant or a literal, except in an expression that defines the value of a constant.

-or-
Use the variable name following the equal (=) sign in an assignment statement.

The following example reads the value of the variable startValue and then uses the value of the variable counter in an expression.
```
counter = startValue
cellValue = (counter + 5) ^ 2
```
The value of the variable participates in the expression just as a constant would, and then it is stored in the variable or property on the left side of the assignment statement.

See also