I'm developing a project on a Siemens PLC and i'm wondering if I should use a Word or a UINT to store a 16-bit value. Is there any differences between the two?
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According to my brief googling, in this case, there is no difference between a `WORD` and a `UINT` on a Siemens PLC, they are both unsigned 16-bit data types. Generally, `INT` datatypes are as long as whatever the CPU can handle, so they could technically change. A `WORD` will always be 16 bits. – Cᴏʀʏ Jan 26 '16 at 17:01
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Generally there is no real difference between the two. The only time where it really matters is when the input type to a function block is either a WORD
or UINT
. Then it will matter.
Generally speaking, if you are choosing between a UINT
or a WORD
to store a numerical value the typical best practice is go ahead an use an UINT
. If you are looking to store a hex value you would want to use the WORD
.

mrsargent
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In other words: UINT conceptually represents a single number, while a WORD conceptually represents a collection of raw bits. – relatively_random Aug 24 '21 at 12:28
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Technically and theoretically there is no difference between WORD
and UINT
but UINT
stores unsigned 16 bit values and WORD
stores Hexadecimal Value

ROLO
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