VB.NET Data Type
In VB.NET, data type is used to define the type of a variable or function in a program. Furthermore, the conversion of one data type to another type using the data conversion function.
A Data Type refers to which type of data or value is assigning to a variable or function so that a variable can hold a defined data type value. For example, when we declare a variable, we have to tell the compiler what type of data or value is allocated to different kinds of variables to hold different amounts of space in computer memory.
Syntax:
VariableName: It defines the name of the variable that you assign to store values.
DataType: It represents the name of the data type that you assign to a variable.
Different Data Types and their allocating spaces in VB.NET
The following table shows the various data types list in the VB.NET programming language.
| Data Types | Required Space | Value Range |
|---|---|---|
| Boolean | A Boolean type depends on the implementing platform | True or False |
| Byte | 1 byte | Byte Range start from 0 to 255 (unsigned) |
| Char | 2 bytes | Char Range start from 0 to 65535 (unsigned) |
| Date | 8 bytes | Date range can be 0:00:0 (midnight) January 1, 0001 to 11:5959 PM of December 31, 9999. |
| Decimal | 16 bytes | Range from 0 to +/-79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,335 (+/-7.9…E+28) without any decimal point; And 0 to +/-7.92281625142264337593543950335 with 28 position to the right of the decimal |
| Double | 8 bytes | -1.79769313486231570E+308 to -4.94-65645841246544E-324 for negative values; 4.94065645841246544E-324 to 1.79769313486231570E+308, for positive values |
| Integer | 4 bytes | -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 (signed) |
| Long | 8 bytes | -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 (9.2…E + 18) (signed) |
| Object | Object size based on the platform such as 4 bytes in 32-bit and 8 bytes in 64-bit platform | It can store any type of data defined in a variable of type Object |
| SByte | 1 byte | -128 to 127 (signed) |
| Short | 2 bytes | -32,768 to 32,767 (signed) |
| Single | 4 bytes | -3.4028235E + 38 to -1.401298E-45 for negative values; And for positive value: 1.401298E-45 to 3.4028235E + 38. |
| String | String Datatype depend on the implementing platform | It accepts Unicode character from 0 to approximately 2 billion characters. |
| UInteger | 4 bytes | The range start from 0 to 4,294,967,295 (unsigned) |
| ULong | 8 bytes | The range of ULong start from 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 (1.8…E + 19) (unsigned) |
| User-Defined (structure) | A user-defined data type depends on the implementing platform | Each member of the structure has its own data type and limits independent of the other members’ ranges. |
| UShort | 2 bytes | Range from 0 to 65,535 (unsigned) |
Let’s use the various data types in a VB.NET program.
Data_type.vb
Output:
Welcome to the tutoraspire Byte is: 1 Integer number is: 20 Single data type is: 0.12 Double data type is: 2131.787 Today is: 31-05-2020 00:00:00 Character is: 1 String message is: Hello Friends...
Type Conversion Functions in VB.NET
The following functions are available for conversion.
- CBool(expression): It is used to convert an expression into a Boolean data type.
- CByte(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a Byte data type.
- CChar(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a Char data type.
- CDate(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a Date data type.
- CDbl(expression): It is used to convert an expression into a Double data type.
- CDec(expression): It is used to convert an expression into a Decimal data type.
- CInt(expression): It is used to convert an expression to an Integer data type.
- CLng(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a Long data type.
- CObj(expression): It is used to convert an expression to an Object data type.
- CSByte(expression): It is used to convert an expression to an SByte data type.
- CShort(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a Short data type.
- CSng(expression): It is used to convert an expression into a Single data type.
- CStr(expression): It is used to convert an expression into a String data type.
- CUInt(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a UInt data type.
- CULng(expression): It is used to convert an expression to a ULng data type.
- CUShort(expression): It is used to convert an expression into a UShort data type.
In the following, program we have performed different conversion.
DB_Conversion.vb
Output:
Ascii value of B is 66 String to integer 66 Boolean value is: True Explicit conversion of Data type 6 Value of Double is: 5.78 Double to Integer: 6
Note: For data type conversion, the VB.NET provides Option Strict On that allows us to convert one data type to another. Some data types in VB.NET reject the conversion because of “Option Strict On”. Remember that while performing conversion, turn off the Option Strict mode.