CONST

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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 the 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
END
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 47882.226

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.
SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(640, 400, 32)

CONST Red = _RGB32(255, 0, 0)

COLOR Red
PRINT "Hello World"

END
Hello World


See also



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