# Why is there a limit in the $VAR translation?

**URL:** <https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/why-is-there-a-limit-in-the-var-translation/9318>\
**Category:** Help!\
**Created:** [September 25, 2025, 7:16am UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/why-is-there-a-limit-in-the-var-translation/9318 "2025-09-25T07:16:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Frank\_Schwidom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/frank_schwidom/32/7662_2.png) [@Frank\_Schwidom](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/Frank_Schwidom)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 7:16am UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/why-is-there-a-limit-in-the-var-translation/9318/1 "2025-09-25T07:16:01Z")

</div>

> ?- L=‘$VAR’(10000000000000000).  
> L = Q384615384615384.
> 
> ?- L=‘$VAR’(100000000000000000).  
> L = ‘$VAR’(100000000000000000).

Why is there a limit in the $VAR translation?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/jan/32/4_2.png) [@jan](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 7:30am UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/why-is-there-a-limit-in-the-var-translation/9318/2 "2025-09-25T07:30:07Z")

</div>

> [@Frank\_Schwidom](#):
>
> Why is there a limit in the $VAR translation?

That many variables do not fit in memory, so you never need such high numbers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Frank\_Schwidom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/frank_schwidom/32/7662_2.png) [@Frank\_Schwidom](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/Frank_Schwidom)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/why-is-there-a-limit-in-the-var-translation/9318/3 "2025-09-25T07:39:59Z")

</div>

I am not really happy with this kind of limitations where it is not really necessary. What if I start the numbervar translation at a higher number for any reason? Then I have still no memory issue.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/jan/32/4_2.png) [@jan](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/why-is-there-a-limit-in-the-var-translation/9318/4 "2025-09-25T08:06:41Z")

</div>

Well, SWI-Prolog is open source. So, if you miss something you can fix it and send a PR. If reasonably coded I’ll merge it. In my view there are pretty much infinitely things that are more important.