REG_SZ and REG_MULTI_SZ
In Windows Registry, REG_SZ
and REG_MULTI_SZ
are two common data types used for storing different kinds of information.
1. REG_SZ:
Description:
REG_SZ
(String Value) is a simple string data type. It is used to store a single, readable text string.It is one of the most commonly used types in the registry for configuration values like file paths, environment variables, or other textual data.
Examples of Usage:
Storing file paths:
C:\Program Files\ExampleApp
Storing application version:
1.0.0
Registry Example:
A key might look like this:
2. REG_MULTI_SZ:
Description:
REG_MULTI_SZ
(Multiple String Value) is used to store multiple strings in a single value. It can be thought of as an array of strings. Each string is separated by a null (\0
) character, and the entire list is terminated with an additional null character.It is useful for storing lists of items such as multi-line text, environment variables, or multiple file paths.
Examples of Usage:
Storing a list of search paths.
Storing a list of DNS server IP addresses.
Registry Example:
A key might look like this:
Differences Between REG_SZ
and REG_MULTI_SZ
:
REG_SZ
and REG_MULTI_SZ
:Data Type:
REG_SZ
holds a single string, whileREG_MULTI_SZ
holds a list of strings.Usage:
REG_SZ
is used for simple single-value strings (like file paths or text data), whileREG_MULTI_SZ
is useful for when you need to store multiple values in a single registry entry (like lists of search paths or environment variables).
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