Data types and methods in AL
The following data types are available as part of the AL language. Each data type has various methods that support it. For more information about a data type and its methods, select a link in the table.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Any | This data type can be substituted by any other data type. |
| BigInteger | Stores very large whole numbers that range from -9,223,372,036,854,775,807 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. |
| BigText | Handles large text documents. |
| Blob | Is a complex data type. Variables of this data type differ from normal numeric and string variables in that BLOBs have a variable length. The maximum size of a BLOB(binary large object) is 2 GB. |
| Boolean | Indicates true or false. |
| Byte | Stores a single, 8-bit character as a value in the range 0 to 255. You can easily convert this data type from a number to a character and vice versa. This means you can use mathematical operators on Byte variables. |
| Char | Stores a single, 16-bit character as a value in the range 0 to 65535. You can convert this data type from a number to a character and vice versa. This means you can use mathematical operators on Char variables. |
| Code | Denotes a special type of string that is converted to uppercase and removes any trailing or leading spaces. |
| Codeunit | Is a container for AL code that you can use from other application objects. |
| CompanyProperty | Provides language support for company properties. |
| Cookie | Provides a data structure to work with Http cookies. |
| Database | Provides access to common database functionality. |
| DataTransfer | A structure building bulk transfer of data between tables. |
| Date | Denotes a date ranging from January 1, 1753 to December 31, 9999. |
| DateFormula | Represents a date formula that has the same capabilities as an ordinary input string for the CALCDATE Method (Date). The DateFormula data type is used to provide multilanguage capabilities to the CALCDATE Method (Date). |
| DateTime | Denotes a date and time ranging from January 1, 1753, 00:00:00.000 to December 31, 9999, 23:59:59.999. An undefined or blank DateTime is specified by 0DT. |
| Debugger | Enables communication with a debugger. |
| Decimal | Denotes decimal numbers ranging from -999,999,999,999,999.99 to +999,999,999,999,999.99. |
| Dialog | Represents a dialog window. |
| Dictionary | Represents an unordered collection of keys and values. The Dictionary data type is optimized for fast lookup of values. |
| DotNet | Represents an unspecified .NET type. |
| Duration | Represents the difference between two DateTimes. This value can be negative. It is stored as a 64-bit integer. The integer value is the number of milliseconds during the duration. |
| Enum | Represents the text content of an element or attribute. |
| ErrorInfo | Provides a structure for grouping information about an error. |
| FieldRef | Identifies a field in a table and gives you access to this field. |
| File | Represents a file. |
| FileUpload | Represents a file. |
| FilterPageBuilder | Stores filter configurations for a filter page. A filter page is a dynamic page type that contains one or more filter controls that enables users to set filters on fields of the underlying tables. |
| Guid | Represents a 16 byte binary data type. This data type is used for the global identification of objects, programs, records, and so on. The important property of a GUID is that each value is globally unique. The value is generated by an algorithm, developed by Microsoft, which assures this uniqueness. |
| HttpClient | Provides a data type for sending HTTP requests and receiving HTTP responses from a resource identified by a URI. |
| HttpContent | Represents an HTTP entity body and content headers. |
| HttpHeaders | Is a collection of headers and their values. |
| HttpRequestMessage | Represents an HTTP request message. |
| HttpResponseMessage | Represents an HTTP response message including the status code and data. |
| InStream | Is a generic stream object that you can use to read from or write to files and BLOBs. You can define the internal structure of a stream as a flat stream of bytes. You can assign one stream to another. Reading from and writing to a stream occurs sequentially. |
| Integer | Stores whole numbers with values that range from -2,147,483,647 to 2,147,483,647. |
| IsolatedStorage | Provides data isolation for extensions. |
| JsonArray | Is a container for any well-formed JSON array. A default JsonArray contains an empty JSON array. |
| JsonObject | Is a container for any well-formed JSON object. A default JsonObject contains an empty JSON object. |
| JsonToken | Is a container for any well-formed JSON data. A default JsonToken object contains the JSON value of NULL. |
| JsonValue | Is a container for any well-formed fundamental JSON value. A default JsonValue is set to the JSON value of NULL. |
| KeyRef | Identifies a key in a table and the fields in this key. |
| Label | Denotes a string constant that can be optionally translated into multiple languages. |
| List | Represents a strongly typed list of ordered objects that can be accessed by index. Contrary to the Array data type, a List is unbounded, such that its dimension does not need to be specified upon declaration. |
| Media | Encapsulates media files, such as image .jpg and .png files, in application database tables. The Media data type can be used as a table field data type, but cannot be used as a variable or parameter. The Media data type enables you to import a media file to the application database and reference the file from records, making it possible to display the media file in the client user interface. You can also export media from the database to files and streams. |
| MediaSet | Encapsulates media, such as images, in application database tables. |
| ModuleDependencyInfo | Provides information about a dependent module. |
| ModuleInfo | Represents information about an application consumable from AL. |
| NavApp | Provides information about a NavApp. |
| None | Is used implicitly when a method does not return a value. |
| Notification | Provides a programmatic way to send non-intrusive information to the user interface (UI) in the Business Central Web client. |
| NumberSequence | Is a complex data type for creating and managing number sequences in the database. |
| Option | Denotes an option value. In the code snippet below, you can see how the Option data type is declared. |
| OutStream | Is a generic stream object that you can use to write to files and BLOBs. |
| Page | Contains a number of simpler elements called controls. Controls are used to display information to the user or receive information from the user. |
| ProductName | An application can have a full name, marketing name, and short name. The PRODUCTNAME functions enable you to retrieve these name variations. |
| Query | Enables you to retrieve data from multiple tables and combine the data in single dataset. |
| Record | Is a complex data type. |
| RecordId | Contains the table number and the primary key of a table. |
| RecordRef | References a record in a table. |
| Report | Is used to display, print, or process information from a database. |
| RequestPage | Is a page that is run before the report starts to execute. Request pages enable end-users to specify options and filters for a report. |
| SecretText | Denotes a secret text string, which is non-debuggable. |
| Session | Represents a Microsoft Dynamics Business Central session. |
| SessionInformation | Is a complex data type for exposing Session information into AL. |
| SessionSettings | Is a complex data type for passing user personalization settings for a client session as an object. The object contains properties that correspond to the fields in the system table 2000000073 User Personalization, including: App ID, Company, Language ID, Locale ID, Profile ID, Scope, and Time Zone. You can use the AL methods of the SessionSettings data type to get, set, and send the user personalization settings for the current client session. |
| System | Is a complex data type. |
| TaskScheduler | TaskScheduler is a complex data type used for creating and managing tasks in the task scheduler, which runs codeunits at scheduled times. |
| TestAction | Represents a test action on a page. |
| TestField | Represents a testable field on a page. |
| TestFilter | Represents a test filter on a page. |
| TestFilterField | Represents the type of a field filter in a test filter on a page or on a request page. |
| TestPage | Represents a variable type that can be used to test Page Application Objects. |
| TestPart | Represents a variable type that can be used to test Page Application Objects of type Part. |
| TestRequestPage | Stores test request pages. A test request page part is a logical representation of a request page on a report. A test request page does not display a user interface (UI). The subtype of a test request page is the report whose request page you want to test. |
| Text | Denotes a text string. |
| TextBuilder | Represents a lighweight wrapper for the .Net implementation of StringBuilder. |
| TextConst | Denotes a multi-language string constant. |
| Time | Denotes a time ranging from 00:00:00.000 to 23:59:59.999. An undefined or blank time is specified by 0T. |
| Variant | Represents an AL variable object. The AL variant data type can contain many AL data types. |
| Version | Represents a version matching the format: Major.Minor.Build.Revision . |
| WebServiceActionContext | Represents an AL WebServiceActionContext. |
| XmlAttribute | Represents an XML attribute. |
| XmlAttributeCollection | Represents a collection of XML attributes. |
| XmlCData | Represents a CData section. |
| XmlComment | Represents an XML comment. |
| XmlDeclaration | Represents an XML declaration. |
| XmlDocument | Represents an XML document. |
| XmlDocumentType | Represents an XML document type. |
| XmlElement | Represents an XML element. |
| XmlNamespaceManager | Represents a namespace manager that can be used to resolve, add and remove namespaces to a collection. It also provides scope management for these namespaces. |
| XmlNameTable | Represents a table of atomized string objects. |
| XmlNode | Represents a XML node which can either be for instance an XML attribute, an XML element or a XML document. |
| XmlNodeList | Represents a collection of XML nodes. |
| Xmlport | XmlPorts are used to export or import data between an external source and a Microsoft Dynamics Business Central database. |
| XmlProcessingInstruction | Represents a processing instruction, which XML defines to keep processor-specific information in the text of the document. |
| XmlReadOptions | Represents the options configuring how XML is loaded from a data source. |
| XmlText | Represents the text content of an element or attribute. |
| XmlWriteOptions | Represents the options configuring how XML is saved. |
| Action | Represents the action that the user took on the page. |
| AuditCategory | Represents an audit category for IfX audit telemetry. |
| ClientType | Represents the type of the client executing the operation. |
| CommitBehavior | Specifies whether commit is allowed within the scope of the method. |
| DataClassification | Sets the classification of the data in the table or field. |
| DataScope | Identifies the scope of stored data in the isolated storage. |
| DefaultLayout | The default layout to be used by a report. |
| ErrorBehavior | Specifies whether errors will be collected within the scope of the method. |
| ErrorType | Represents the type of error. |
| ExecutionContext | Represents the context in which a session is running. In certain scenarios, for example during upgrade, the system will run a session in a special context for a limited time. |
| ExecutionMode | The execution mode of the current session. |
| FieldClass | Represents the type of a field class. |
| FieldType | Represents the type of a table field. |
| InherentPermissionsScope | The different types of scope that the InherentPermissions attribute can apply to. |
| IsolationLevel | The isolation level applied for this record. |
| NotificationScope | Specifies the context in which the notification appears in the client. |
| ObjectType | The different types of objects. |
| PageBackgroundTaskErrorLevel | Specifies how an error in the page background task appears in the client. |
| PageStyle | Represents the different kinds of styles that can be applied to page controls. |
| PermissionObjectType | The different types of objects that can have different permissions assigned. |
| PromptMode | Specifies the current mode of a PromptDialog page. |
| ReportFormat | Specifies the format of the report. |
| ReportLayoutType | Represents the type of a report layout. |
| SecurityFilter | Specifies how security filters are applied to the record. |
| SecurityOperationResult | Represents security audit operation result. |
| TableConnectionType | Use variables of this data type to specify the type of connection to an external database. |
| TelemetryScope | Represents the emission scope of the telemetry signal. |
| TestPermissions | Specifies a value that can be used to determine which permission sets are used on tests that are run by test codunits or test functions. |
| TextEncoding | Represents a file encoding. |
| TransactionModel | Represents a test transaction model. |
| TransactionType | Represents a transaction type. |
| Verbosity | Represents the security level of events. |
| WebServiceActionResultCode | Represents a web service action status code. |