What does the $ symbol do in VBA?

Question

For example:

variable1=Dir$(some_path)

vs.

variable1=Dir(some_path)

What is the difference?

Why n

Answer 1

Here is a Cheat Sheet for DataTypes

Variable End with:

$ : String
% : Integer (Int16)
& : Long (Int32)
! : Single
# : Double
@ : Decimal

Start with:

&H : Hex
&O : Octal

Comparison between VB and VB.Net (reference)

Visual Studio .Net added Literal Types (reference)

Value End with: (For more complete list, refer the the reference)

S : Short (Int16)
I : Integer (Int32)
L : Long (Int64)
F : Single
R : Double
D : Decimal

Answer 2

I think that the $ version returns a String, and the non $ version returns a variant.

Mid vs Mid$

http://forums.devarticles.com/microsoft-access-development-49/mid-function-vs-mid-26315.html

Answer 3

The dollar sign indicates a string will be returned instead of a variant.

Answer 4

Dir() returns the result as the variant data type. Dir$() returns the result as the string data type.

Answer 5

some uses $ version for its purported efficiency(as it accepts and outputs statically-typed variables only). I don't know how much is the speed difference between statically-typed and variant type, just benchmark