VB.NET - ReDim Keyword (Array.Resize)

ReDim. This keyword resizes an array. We specify the maximum number of elements we want the array to have. ReDim then creates a new array of that size.

With ReDim, we specify the last index we want the array size to have. In this way it is the same as a Dim statement. ReDim can shorten or lengthen an array.

Array

An example. Here we create an Integer array of 3 elements. We then expand the array and zero it out with ReDim. We then shrink the array with ReDim.

Module Module1 Sub Main() ' Create an array with 3 Integer elements. Dim x() As Integer = New Integer() {1, 2, 3} Console.WriteLine(String.Join(",", x)) ' Use ReDim to resize the array. ReDim x(5) Console.WriteLine(String.Join(",", x)) ' Use ReDim to shorten the array. ReDim x(2) Console.WriteLine(String.Join(",", x)) End Sub End Module

1,2,3 0,0,0,0,0,0 0,0,0

Array.Resize. With Array.Resize we can resize an array, but it is not zeroed out. In this way Array.Resize is different than ReDim.

Module Module1 Sub Main() Dim x() As Integer = New Integer() {1, 2, 3} ' This keeps the existing elements. Array.Resize(x, 6) Console.WriteLine(String.Join(",", x)) End Sub End Module

1,2,3,0,0,0

Performance, ReDim. ReDim and Array.Resize do not do the exact same thing—Array.Resize retains existing elements, but ReDim clears everything. Still we can compare the performance.

Version 1 This version uses ReDim to resize the array to have 6 elements (it specifies 5 as the last index).

Version 2 This version uses Array.Resize. It retains the existing elements, unlike ReDim.

Result ReDim is faster than Array.Resize. So if possible, ReDim is a better option than Array.Resize.

Benchmark

Module Module1 Sub Main() Dim m As Integer = 10000000 Dim s1 As Stopwatch = Stopwatch.StartNew ' Version 1: use ReDim. For i As Integer = 0 To m - 1 Dim x() As Integer = New Integer() {1, 2, 3} ReDim x(5) If Not x.Length = 6 Then Return End If Next s1.Stop() Dim s2 As Stopwatch = Stopwatch.StartNew ' Version 2: use Array.Resize. For i As Integer = 0 To m - 1 Dim x() As Integer = New Integer() {1, 2, 3} Array.Resize(x, 6) If Not x.Length = 6 Then Return End If Next s2.Stop() Dim u As Integer = 1000000 Console.WriteLine(((s1.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds * u) / m).ToString("0.00 ns")) Console.WriteLine(((s2.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds * u) / m).ToString("0.00 ns")) End Sub End Module

10.70 ns ReDim 70.40 ns Array.Resize

Some last comments. ReDim allocates a new array in place of an existing array. All the elements of a ReDim array are erased and set to their default.

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This page was last updated on Dec 4, 2022 (edit link).

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