PET VIC-20 C64 C16 Plus/4 C128 X16 M65
DIM is used for defining variables and arrays.
DIM|STATIC [SHARED] [FAST] _ <variable name>[(<array dimensions>)] AS <type> [@<address>] _ [, <variable name>[(<array dimensions>)] AS <type> [@<address>] ... ] _ [SHARED] [FAST]
DIM is used to explicitly define variables and assign them a type. Since XC=BASIC is a statically typed programming language, all variables must be defined before they can be used. While some variables can be auto-defined by the compiler without the use of the DIM statement (known as “implicit definition”), the use of DIM ensures the variable is defined as the intended type.
DIM or STATIC. The latter is used for defining a static variable in dynamic subroutines and functions. Read more hereAS keyword is mandatory and the variable type must be defined. The type can be a numeric, string or user-defined type as well. If the variable is defined as string, the string length must be also given, for example DIM mystr$ AS STRING * 16SHARED can be used to set the variable's visibility to shared, that means the variable is visible from within all code modules.FAST keyword instructs the compiler to reserve space for the variable on the zero page, if available. If no more zero page space is available, the keyword will be ignored with a warning.@<address> is provided, the compiler will place the variable at the given address in memory. It can be either be:' define single variables DIM enemy_count AS INT DIM score AS DECIMAL DIM gravity AS FLOAT DIM name$ AS STRING * 16 ' define multiple variables in a single statement, ' all in the shared scope DIM SHARED a AS INT, b AS WORD, c AS FLOAT ' dimension an array of 24 INT variables DIM rockets(24) AS INT ' define a variable with explicit address DIM my_var AS INT @ $C000
Note
Refer to the Variables page for more information on defining variables. Refer to the Data Types page for more information on variable types and their use.