To/From Code

	Languages
BROWSEBYLANGUAGE Access VBA ASP Classic C# C++ C++/CLI Delphi Delphi Prism Java JavaScript ObjectPAL Perl PHP VB Classic VB.Net

	Categories
BROWSEBYCATEGORY +Tool Basics -Language Basics Case Sensitivity◄╣ Code Blocks Comments Constants End of Statement Literals Variables +Language Details +Data Structures +Statements +Operators +Commands +Database +OOP Basics +OOP Details

► KB ► To/From Guides ► Reference ► Language Basics

Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics)

Case Sensitivity

Languages Focus

Case sensitiviy in this case is referring to commands and variable names. For example, are "printf" and "PrintF" equivalent? Are fullname and FullName equivalent? When you create commands, operations, methods, or variables should you worry about case?

Access VBA: No

Access VBA is not case sensitive. Like VB Classic, if you type any other case for command or variable names, Access VBA will change it to the "accepted" or "defined" case. For example, if you type msgbox it is converted to Msgbox.

Syntax Example:

The following code works:

MsgBox ("hello")

Linked Certification Question(s)

The following are practice certification questions with answers highlighted. These questions were prepared by Mike Prestwood and are intended to stress an important aspect of this KB post. All our practice questions are intended to prepare you generally for passing any certification test as well as prepare you for professional work.

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: True or False?

Access VBA is not case sensitive. If you type any other case for command or variable names, Access VBA will change it to the "accepted" or "defined" case.

Answer:

True

False

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

ASP Classic: No

ASP Classic is not case sensitive. My preference for all languages where case sensitivity does not matter is to use camel caps as in the first example above. Many developers coming from a case sensitive language prefer to use all lowercase.

Syntax Example:

You can use any of the following:

Response.Write "Hello"

response.write "Hello"

RESPONSE.WRITE "Hello"

REsponse.WritE "Hello"

Linked Certification Question(s)

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: Multiple Choice

Which code snippet is syntactically correct?

Answer:

Dim MyName

MyName = "Nathan"

Response.Write "Hello " & MyName

Dim MyName

myname = "Nathan"

response.write "Hello " & myname

Dim MyName

MYNAME = "Nathan"

RESPONSE.WRITE "Hello " & MYNAME

All of the above.

None of the above.

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

C#: Yes

In C# commands and variable names are case sensitive. The following does NOT:

messagebox.Show("hello");  //Does not compile!

The first time you type any other case for commands or variables, VS.Net will change it to the accepted or defined case. For example, if you type messagebox.show it is converted to MessageBox.Show. Once corrected, you can break it again by editing MessageBox to messagebox and the compiler will give you an error.

Syntax Example:

The following code works:

MessageBox.Show("hello");

C# Case Sensitivity (Yes) 1 certification question.

Wrong Cased Variables Give Compiler Error

If you declare a variable with one case and attempt to use it with another case, you'll get a compiler error.

For example:

String MyName;

myname = "Felicia";   //Compiler error.
MessageBox.Show("Hello " + MyName);

Using Same Named-Different Cased Variabes

You can have the same named variable with an alternate case. Although not the best idea, the following does work:

String MYNAME;

String MyName;

MYNAME = "Nathan";
MyName = "Felicia";

MessageBox.Show("Hello " + MYNAME); //Shows Nathan.
MessageBox.Show("Hello " + MyName); //Shows Felicia.

Linked Certification Question(s)

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: True or False?

In C# you can declare and use a variable spelled the same but with a different case as in the following:

Int16 InvoiceNumber;
Int16 INVOICENUMBER;

InvoiceNumber = 1001;
INVOICENUMBER = 1002;

MessageBox.Show("" + InvoiceNumber);
MessageBox.Show("" + INVOICENUMBER);

Answer:

True

False

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

C++: Yes

C++ is case sensitive. In C and C++ commands and variable names are case sensitive.

Syntax Example:

The following first standard C++ snippet works:

printf("hello\n");

Printf("hello\n"); //>>>Does not work!

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

C++/CLI: Yes

Same as standard C++. Both are case sensitive. In C and C++ commands and variable names are case sensitive.

Syntax Example:

The following first C++/CLI snippet works:

MessageBox::Show("Hello");

messagebox::SHOW("Hello"); //>>>Does not work!

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

Delphi: No

Object Pascal is generally not case sensitive.

Syntax Example:

Variables and commands are not case sensitive.

var
 FullName: String;
begin
 fullname := 'Mike Prestwood';
 ShowMessage(fullNAME);
 SHOWMESSAGE(FULLNAME);
 showmessage(fullname);

end;

Cannot Declare Different Cased Variables

The compiler will not let you compile two variables within the same scope with the same name even with different case:

var
  MyName : String;
  MYNAME : String; //Compiler error!

Wrong Cased Variables Legal

Although you probably should stick with consistent casing, it is legal. If can declare a variable with one case and to use it with another case.

For example:

//The following mixed case varialbes work:

var
  MyName : String;
begin
  myname := 'Lisa';
  ShowMessage('Hello ' + MYNAME);
end;

Linked Certification Question(s)

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: True or False?

In Delphi you can declare and make use of same named-different case variables (two distinct variables) as in the following:

MyName : String;
MYNAME : String;

Answer:

True

False

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

FAQ:	Camel versus Pascal Casing

Camel versus Pascal Casing

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

Definition:

Camel Casing

Delphi Prism: No

Prism is generally not case sensitive. Commands and variable names are not case sensitive.

Note: Prism (and Delphi for .Net) do not automatically match your typed case with the defined case as C# and VB.Net do within the Visual Studio Shell.

Syntax Example:

The following demonstrates command and variable case insensitiviy.

var
 FullName: String;
begin
 fullname := 'Mike Prestwood';

 MessageBox.Show(fullNAME);
 MESSAGEBOX.SHOW(FULLNAME);
 messAGEbox.sHow(fullname);
end;

Linked Certification Question(s)

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: True or False?

In Prism you can declare and make use of same named-different case variables (two distinct variables) as in the following:

MyName : String;
MYNAME : String;

Answer:

True

False

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

Java: Yes

Java is case sensitive.

Customary casing:

Classes - Initial Caps (Pascal Casing)
Variables - Initial lowecase (Camel case)
Methods - Initial lowecase (Camel case)

More Info / Comment

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

FAQ:	Camel versus Pascal Casing

Camel versus Pascal Casing

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

Definition:

Camel Casing

JavaScript: Yes

JavaScript is case sensitive. Change the case, and it no longer works! Notice the "W" in "Write" is capitalized.

<script language=JavaScript> 
<!--
document.Write("Hello"); //Does not work! 
//--> 
</script>

Variable names are case sensitive.

Syntax Example:

This does work:

<script language=JavaScript> 
<!--
document.write("Hello"); 
//--> 
</script>

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

ObjectPAL: No

ObjectPAL is not case sensitive. My preference for ObjectPAL is to follow the camel casing promoted in the examples and help files originally developed by Borland.

Syntax Example:

All of the following are equivalent:

msgInfo "", "Hello"

MsgInfo "", "Hello"

msginfo "", "Hello"

MSGINFO "", "Hello"

Variables are not case sensitive.

Var
 FullName String
endVar

fullname="Mike Prestwood"
msgInfo("", fullNAME)

Linked Certification Question(s)

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: Yes or No?

With regard to commands and variable names, is ObjectPAL case sensitive?

Answer:

Yes

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

Definition:

Camel Casing

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

FAQ:	Camel versus Pascal Casing

Perl: Yes

Perl is case sensitive.

Syntax Example:

print "hello"; //This works.

Print "hello"; //This does not.

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

PHP: Yes and No

PHP is case sensitive with variable names but not with commands. Although commands are case incenstive, I prefer to use all lowercase because it's easy to type and that's what I see most PHP coders doing and I see it on PHP.Net.

Syntax Example:

All of the following are equivalent:

echo "hello<br>";

ECHO "hello<br>";

Echo "hello<br>";

eCHo "hello<br>";

...but variables are case sensitive:

$fullname = "Mike Prestwood"; //These are two...

$FullName = "Wes Peterson";   //separate varialbes.

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

VB Classic: No

VB Classic is not case sensitive. If you type any other case for commands or variables, VB Classicwill change it to the "accepted" or "defined" case. For example, if you type msgbox it is converted to MsgBox.

Syntax Example:

The following code works:

MsgBox ("hello")

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages

VB.Net: No

VB.Net is not case sensitive. If you type any other case for commands or variables, VB.Net will change it to the accepted or defined case. For example, if you type messagebox.show it is converted to MessageBox.Show.

Syntax Example:

The following code works:

MessageBox.Show("hello")

Linked Certification Question(s)

Beginner

1 Beginner Level Question

Question #1: True or False?

In VB.Net you can declare and make use of same named-different case variables as in the following:

Dim MyName As String

Dim MYNAME As String

Answer:

True

False

More Info

To/From Code Guide: Case Sensitivity (Cross Ref > Language Basics) vs. Other Languages