CONST

From QB64 Phoenix Edition Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The CONST statement globally defines one or more named numeric or string values which will not change while the program is running.


Syntax

CONST constantName = value[, ...]


Parameters

  • constantName is the constant name or list of names assigned by the programmer.
  • value is the value to initialize the global constant which cannot change once defined.
    • If constantName specifies a numeric type, value must be a numeric expression containing literals and other constants.
    • If constantName specifies a string type, the value must be a literal value.


Description

  • The constantName does not have to include a type suffix. The datatype is automatically infered by the compiler using the value.
  • Constant values cannot reference a variable or user FUNCTION return value when defined. However, other (already known) constants and most of the internal char, math or color functions can be used, such as CHR$, EXP or _RGBA32.
  • Constants cannot be reassigned values. They retain the same value throughout all of the program procedures.
  • Constants defined in module-level code have shared scope, so they can also be used in SUB or FUNCTION procedures.
  • Constants defined in SUB or FUNCTION procedures are local to those procedures.
  • CLEAR will not affect or change constant values.
  • Since QB64-PE v4.0.0 a huge list of preset Constants is available in every program.


Examples

Example 1: Display the circumference and area of circles:

' Declare a numeric constant approximately equal to the ratio of a circle's
' circumference to its diameter:
CONST PI = 3.141593

' Declare some string constants:
CONST circumferenceText = "The circumference of the circle is"
CONST areaText = "The area of the circle is"

DO
    INPUT "Enter the radius of a circle or zero to quit"; radius
    IF radius = 0 THEN END
    PRINT circumferenceText; 2 * PI * radius
    PRINT areaText; PI * radius * radius ' radius squared
    PRINT
LOOP
Enter the radius of a circle or zero to quit? 10
The circumference of the circle is 62.83186
The area of the circle is 314.1593

Enter the radius of a circle or zero to quit? 123.456
The circumference of the circle is 775.697
The area of the circle is 47882.23

Enter the radius of a circle or zero to quit? 0
Explanation: PI cannot change as it is a mathematical constant so it is fitting to define it as a constant. Trying to change PI will result in a calculation error.


Example 2: Using _RGB32 to set a constant's value.

CONST Red = _RGB32(255,0,0)

COLOR Red
PRINT "Hello World"


See also



Navigation:
Main Page with Articles and Tutorials
Keyword Reference - Alphabetical
Keyword Reference - By usage
Report a broken link