Integer Data Type (Visual Basic)
Holds signed 32-bit (4-byte) integers ranging in value from -2,147,483,648 through 2,147,483,647.
The Integer data type provides optimal performance on a 32-bit processor. The other integral types are slower to load and store from and to memory.
The default value of Integer is 0.
Programming Tips
-
Interop Considerations. If you are interfacing with components not written for the .NET Framework, for example Automation or COM objects, keep in mind that Integer has a different data width (16 bits) in other environments. If you are passing a 16-bit argument to such a component, declare it as Short instead of Integer in your new Visual Basic code.
-
Widening. The Integer data type widens to Long, Decimal, Single, or Double. This means you can convert Integer to any of these types without encountering a System.OverflowException error.
-
Type Characters. Appending the literal type character I to a literal forces it to the Integer data type. Appending the identifier type character % to any identifier forces it to Integer.
-
Framework Type. The corresponding type in the .NET Framework is the System.Int32 structure.
Range
If you try to set a variable of an integral type to a number outside the range for that type, an error occurs. If you try to set it to a fraction, the number is rounded. The following example shows this.
' The valid range of an Integer variable is -2147483648 through +2147483647. Dim k As Integer ' The following statement causes an error because the value is too large. k = 2147483648 ' The following statement sets k to 6. k = CInt(5.9)
