Value Types
Choosing the right value type in Cheat Engine makes the difference between finding the address and getting zero or useless results. See the Scanning guide for the full flow and the Pointers guide for stable addresses; Glossary explains terms.
4 Bytes / 4 Bytes (unsigned)
Standard 32-bit integer. Use for whole numbers: health, ammo, gold, level, item IDs. Signed allows negative values; unsigned is 0 and up. Most simple game values are 4 Bytes.
Float / Double
Float is 32-bit floating point (decimals). Use for health bars shown as percentages, coordinates (X/Y/Z), speed, timers, or any value that has a decimal part. Double is 64-bit and used when the game needs higher precision (e.g. world coordinates in large maps).
8 Bytes / 8 Bytes (unsigned)
64-bit integer. Use when the number is very large (e.g. currency in some MMOs) or when 4 Bytes gives zero results and the value is a whole number. Some games use 8 Bytes for timestamps or unique IDs.
String / Unicode
Text. Use when you want to find or replace a name, a message, or any visible text. String is typically ASCII; Unicode is UTF-16 (common in Windows games). You can scan for exact text or “Unknown” and narrow with “Changed value.”
Array of byte / AOB
Used for finding code patterns (AOB scans), not usually for “value” scans. Handy when you need to locate a specific instruction sequence for code injection. See the Glossary (AOB) and code-injection guides.
Quick decision guide
Use this table to pick a value type when scanning in Cheat Engine:
| Value type | Use for |
|---|---|
| 4 Bytes / 4 Bytes (unsigned) | Health, ammo, gold, level, whole numbers |
| Float | Percentages, coordinates, decimals |
| Double | High-precision numbers, large coordinates |
| 8 Bytes | Very large integers, timestamps, IDs |
| String / Unicode | Names, text, visible strings |
Integer (no decimals) → 4 Bytes (or 8 Bytes if huge). Percentage or coordinate → Float. Still zero results? Try Float or “Unknown initial value” with Increased/Decreased. Names or text → String or Unicode.