The [OPTION BASE](OPTION-BASE) statement is used to set the default lower bound of arrays.

## Syntax

> [OPTION BASE](OPTION-BASE) {0|1}

## Description

* This statement affects array declarations where the lower bound of a dimension is not specified.
* When used, [OPTION BASE](OPTION-BASE) must come before any array declarations ([DIM](DIM)) to be affected.
* By default, the lower bound for arrays is zero, and may be changed to one using the statement.
* Otherwise, arrays will be dimensioned from element 0 if you DIM just the upper bounds.
* You can also set other array boundaries by using [TO](TO) in the DIM declaration such as `DIM array(5 TO 10)`

## Example(s)

Set the default lower bound for array declarations to one.

```vb

OPTION BASE 1

' Declare a 5-element one-dimensional array with element indexes of one through five.
DIM array(5) AS INTEGER

PRINT LBOUND(array)

```

```text

 1

```

Set the default lower bound for array declarations to zero.

```vb

OPTION BASE 0

' Declare an 18-element two-dimensional array with element indexes of zero through two 
' for the first dimension, and 10 through 15 for the second dimension.
DIM array(2, 10 to 15) AS INTEGER

PRINT LBOUND(array, 1)
PRINT LBOUND(array, 2)

```

```text

 0
 10

```

## See Also

* [Arrays](Arrays), [LBOUND](LBOUND), [UBOUND](UBOUND)
* [DIM](DIM), [REDIM](REDIM), [STATIC](STATIC), [COMMON](COMMON)