Registry keys are containers that will contain values for software, hardware or the Windows OS itself. Keys can be thought of as folders, in which the values are individual files, follow Registry Keys and Values - Part 1 to know about Keys.
You can navigate the keys using a folder-type hierarchy. Values are the nuts and bolts of the Registry. These are the settings, integers, and strings that provide the data and information that helps Windows load and effectively work with your hardware and apps.
Registry Value Types
When you create a new Registry value, you will be presented with the following options:
• REG_BINARY: This key type stores raw binary data.
• REG_DWORD: A variable-length 32-bit integer.
• DWORDS: Commonly used to define the parameters for settings,device drivers, and software configuration.
• REG_SZ: A fixed-length string value.
• REG_EXPAND_SZ: An expandable-length string value, also used to contain environment variables.
• REG_MULTI_SZ: A multiple string that may contain a list of values, normally separated by commas or a space.
• REG_RESOURCE_LIST: A list of resources in a nested array, used by device drivers.
• REG_RESOURCE_REQUIRMENTS_LIST: An array list of hardware resources, used by device drivers.
• REG_FULL_RESOURCE_DESCRIPTOR: These are nested arrays used to store the resource lists for physical hardware devices.
• REG_LINK: A symbolic link (UNICODE) to another Registry key that specifies both the root key and the path to the target key.
• REG_NONE: Data that does not have a specific type.
• REG_QWORD: A variable-length 64-bit integer.