The dim() Command

Command Summary

Returns the size of a list, matrix, or string.

Command Syntax

dim(list-matrix-or-string)

Menu Location

• Press 2nd MATH to enter the MATH menu.
• Press D to enter the String submenu.
• Press 3 to select dim(.

Calculator Compatibility

This command works on all calculators.

Token Size

1 byte

The dim() command returns the size of a list, matrix, or string:

• The number of elements for a list.
• The number of characters for a string.
• A list of {number of rows, number of columns} for a matrix.

This command is critical to using any of these objects, for instance if you want to write a For..EndFor loop to look at every element.

However, unlike the TI-83 series version, you can't use the dim() command to change the size of anything. Use mid() to get a smaller list or string (subMat() for a matrix), or use newList() and newMat() to create a list or matrix of a specific size.

:dim({1,2,3,4,5}
           5
:dim("TI-Basic Developer")
           18
:dim([1,2,3;4,5,6])
           {2  3}

Optimization

For matrices, using rowDim() and colDim() is usually better in all practical situations, and you don't have to remember which number goes first.

Related Commands

• mid()
• subMat()
• newList()
• newMat()