readonly variable?!!!

[MrPolite]

I just wrote this and compiler didnt underline it, do we have such a thing!!!?!!

Public ReadOnly curX As Integer

This is in a class. So is that the same as this?

    Public ReadOnly Property CurX() As Integer
        Get
            Return mCurX
        End Get
    End Property

[Tygur]

Yep, it exists. The variable basically becomes a constant.

[Frans C]

It isn't really a constant, because the variable mCurX (assuming is is declared Private) can be changed inside the class. it just can't be changed publicly.

[Tygur]

Originally posted by Frans C
It isn't really a constant, because the variable mCurX (assuming is is declared Private) can be changed inside the class. it just can't be changed publicly.

I'm not sure what you're saying, but this variable:
Public ReadOnly MyInt As Integer

...and this variable:
Private ReadOnly MyInt As Integer

...cannot be changed anywhere, and they are effectively constants. So I'm not sure what you're referring to.

[Frans C]

I was referring to the code example MrPolite posted:

Public ReadOnly Property CurX() As Integer
        Get
            Return mCurX
        End Get
    End Property

Assuming the variable mCurX was defined like this:
Private mCurX as Integer

The property CurX is read only, but because this property returns the value of mCurX, it can return variable results, because the variable mCurX can be changed inside the class.

[Tygur]

Originally posted by Frans C
I was referring to the code example MrPolite posted

Oh. I was referring to the ReadOnly variable he was asking about. I believe you misread his post (and therefore mine too). He was asking if ReadOnly variables existed. I believe he already knew about ReadOnly properties. So I was saying that ReadOnly variables (not properties) are effectively constants.

[Frans C]

You're absolutely right tygur, on both accounts.
I misread the question, and ReadOnly variables act like constants.

There are only a few differences between contants and ReadOnly variables.

Next to initializing the variable inline (Public ReadOnly curX As Integer = 5), you can also give it a value in the classes constructor.

Public ReadOnly curX As Integer
 
    Public Sub New()
        curX = 6
    End Sub
    Public Sub New(ByVal NewX As Integer)
        curX = Newx
    End Sub

ReadOnly variables can be of any type, including reference type variables, where constants can only be Boolean, Byte, Char, Date, Decimal, Double, Integer, Long, Object, Short, Single, String, or the name of an enumeration.

[MrPolite]

tnx all for the info