Numeric data types

[kleinma]

What is better to use in .net ?

Integer Vs Int32
Short Vs Int16
etc

[Grimfort]

Integers. Most CPUs are 32 bit, so each time you wish to do a calculation on a 32 bit value, the whole thing is pushed into the CPU register. where as using 16 bit, it either has to buffer it out, or wait for 2 of them before it deals with it.

Well, thats what I read anyway .

[kleinma]

no that wasn't my question. Sorry maybe I wasn't clear

I meant what is more efficent to use

Integer
or
Int32

and

Short
or
Int16

[Grimfort]

I "believe" that the Integer is a wrapper for Int32, because Ive heard that on a 32 bit OS it uses an Int32 and that on a 64 bit uses it as an Int64. Ive never had the chance to try it.

As for short and Int16, I would have thought they are the same thing, but I know MS suggest you use Int16 as its the base .net name and Short is the VB shortcut. But at compile time I spose its the same thing.

If you find a better explaination do tell .

[Grimfort]

Just had a search, and it seems that the Integer is just mapped directly to Int32 currently, and that the Int64 thing is probly just a rumour .
So they are both the same, use what you prefer is the general reply.

[Pirate]

Integer is mapped to the base class Int32 . Whether you use Integer or Int32 , it will be converted to IL that says Int32 .

[nemaroller]

Int32 is explicitly 4 bytes long.

Integer is not. It presently exists as a 32bit variable on today's framework. Not necessarily true 3 years from now. I guess it was to allow for expansion on to future OS's.... but as Pirate points out, in this framework, it seems to map to Int32.

But I don't have a 64bit OS to compile it on, or a future version of the framework to test it on, so...

http://blogs.msdn.com/duncanma/archi...4/06/4927.aspx

[kleinma]

im not concerned so much with the int64 which is why i didnt mention it in the post.

Im just converting some VB6 classes and was wondering what data types I should use for my integers and longs if I should use short and integer or int16 and int32

[PT Exorcist]

Int64 isn't a long?

[nemaroller]

My advice... based off that msdn blog..

Use Integer in all cases unless you're going to be passing them as parameters to a Win32 API (or other libraries which explicitly expect a 4-bit Integer , and pass it an Int32 in those cases).