How to: Hold More Than One Value in a Variable 

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 (Visual Basic).

   • Define a class with a Class Statement (Visual Basic).

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

Reference

Data Type Summary (Visual Basic)

Concepts

Type Characters
Composite Data Types
Data Types Are .NET Framework Types

Other Resources

Structures: Your Own Data Types
Arrays in Visual Basic
Understanding Classes