comparison of c#.net and vb.net

// Single line
/* Multiple
    line  */
/// <summary>XML comments on single line</summary>
/** <summary>XML comments on multiple lines</summary> */

Value Types
Boolean
Byte, SByte
Char
Short, UShort, Integer, UInteger, Long, ULong
Single, Double
Decimal
Date   (alias of System.DateTime)

Reference Types
Object
String

Initializing
Dim correct As Boolean = True
Dim b As Byte = &H2A   'hex or &O52 for octal
Dim person As Object = Nothing
Dim name As String = "Dwight"
Dim grade As Char = "B"c
Dim today As Date = #12/31/2007 12:15:00 PM#
Dim amount As Decimal = 35.99@
Dim gpa As Single = 2.9!
Dim pi As Double = 3.14159265
Dim lTotal As Long = 123456L
Dim sTotal As Short = 123S
Dim usTotal As UShort = 123US
Dim uiTotal As UInteger = 123UI
Dim ulTotal As ULong = 123UL

Implicitly Typed Local Variables
Dim s = "Hello!"
Dim nums = New Integer() {1, 2, 3}
Dim hero = New SuperHero With {.Name = "Batman"}

Type Information
Dim x As Integer
Console.WriteLine(x.GetType())          ' Prints System.Int32
Console.WriteLine(GetType(Integer))   ' Prints System.Int32
Console.WriteLine(TypeName(x))        ' Prints Integer

Dim c as New Circle
If TypeOf c Is Shape Then _
    Console.WriteLine("c is a Shape")

Type Conversion / Casting
Dim d As Single = 3.5
Dim i As Integer = CType(d, Integer)   ' set to 4 (Banker's rounding)
i = CInt(d)  ' same result as CType
i = Int(d)    ' set to 3 (Int function truncates the decimal)

Dim o As Object = 2
i = DirectCast(o, Integer)   ' Throws InvalidCastException if type cast fails

Dim s As New Shape
Dim c As Circle = TryCast(s, Circle)   ' Returns Nothing if type cast fails

Value Types
bool
byte, sbyte
char
short, ushort, int, uint, long, ulong
float, double
decimal
DateTime   (not a built-in C# type)

Reference Types
object
string

Initializing
bool correct = true;
byte b = 0x2A;   // hex
object person = null;
string name = "Dwight";
char grade = 'B';
DateTime today = DateTime.Parse("12/31/2007 12:15:00");
decimal amount = 35.99m;
float gpa = 2.9f;
double pi = 3.14159265;
long lTotal = 123456L;
short sTotal = 123;
ushort usTotal = 123;
uint uiTotal = 123;
ulong ulTotal = 123;

Implicitly Typed Local Variables
var s = "Hello!";
var nums = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 };
var hero = new SuperHero() { Name = "Batman" };

Type Information
int x;
Console.WriteLine(x.GetType());              // Prints System.Int32
Console.WriteLine(typeof(int));               // Prints System.Int32
Console.WriteLine(x.GetType().Name);   // prints Int32

Circle c = new Circle();
if (c is Shape)
    Console.WriteLine("c is a Shape");

Type Conversion / Casting
float d = 3.5f;
i = Convert.ToInt32(d);     // Set to 4 (rounds)
int i = (int)d;     // set to 3 (truncates decimal)


object o = 2;
int i = (int)o;   // Throws InvalidCastException if type cast fails

Shape s = new Shape();
Circle c = s as Circle;   // Returns null if type cast fails

' Can set to a const or var; may be initialized in a constructor
ReadOnly MIN_DIAMETER As Single = 4.93

// Can set to a const or var; may be initialized in a constructor
readonly float MIN_DIAMETER = 4.93f;

Comparison
=  <  >  <=  >=  <>

Arithmetic
+  -  *  /
Mod
\  (integer division)
^  (raise to a power)

Assignment
=  +=  -=  *=  /=  \=  ^=  <<=  >>=  &=

Bitwise
And   Or   Xor   Not   <<   >>

Logical
AndAlso   OrElse   And   Or   Xor   Not

Note: AndAlso and OrElse perform short-circuit logical evaluations

String Concatenation
&

Comparison
==  <  >  <=  >=  !=

Arithmetic
+  -  *  /
%  (mod)
/  (integer division if both operands are ints)
Math.Pow(x, y)

Assignment
=  +=  -=  *=  /=   %=  &=  |=  ^=  <<=  >>=  ++  --

Bitwise
&   |   ^   ~   <<   >>

Logical
&&   ||   &   |   ^   !

Note: && and || perform short-circuit logical evaluations

String Concatenation
+

' Ternary/Conditional operator (Iff evaluates 2nd and 3rd expressions)
greeting = If(age < 20, "What's up?", "Hello")

' One line doesn't require "End If"
If age < 20 Then greeting = "What's up?"
If age < 20 Then greeting = "What's up?" Else greeting = "Hello"

' Use : to put two commands on same line
If x <> 100 AndAlso y < 5 Then x *= 5 : y *= 2  

' Preferred
If x <> 100 AndAlso y < 5 Then
  x *= 5
  y *= 2
End If

' To break up any long single line use _
If whenYouHaveAReally < longLine And _
  itNeedsToBeBrokenInto2 > Lines Then _
  UseTheUnderscore(charToBreakItUp)

'If x > 5 Then
  x *= y
ElseIf x = 5 OrElse y Mod 2 = 0 Then
  x += y
ElseIf x < 10 Then
  x -= y
Else
  x /= y
End If

Select Case color   ' Must be a primitive data type
  Case "pink", "red"
    r += 1
  Case "blue"
    b += 1
  Case "green"
    g += 1
  Case Else
    other += 1
End Select

// Ternary/Conditional operator
greeting = age < 20 ? "What's up?" : "Hello";

if (age < 20)
  greeting = "What's up?";
else
  greeting = "Hello";

// Multiple statements must be enclosed in {}
if (x != 100 && y < 5) {   
  x *= 5;
  y *= 2;
}

No need for _ or : since ; is used to terminate each statement.

if (x > 5)
  x *= y;
else if (x == 5 || y % 2 == 0)
  x += y;
else if (x < 10)
  x -= y;
else
  x /= y;

// Every case must end with break or goto case
switch (color) {                          // Must be integer or string
  case "pink":
  case "red":    r++;    break;
  case "blue":   b++;   break;
  case "green": g++;   break;
  default:    other++;   break;       // break necessary on default
}

'  Array or collection looping
Dim names As String() = {"Fred", "Sue", "Barney"}
For Each s As String In names
  Console.WriteLine(s)
Next

' Breaking out of loops
Dim i As Integer = 0
While (True)
  If (i = 5) Then Exit While
  i += 1
End While

 

' Continue to next iteration
For i = 0 To 4
  If i < 4 Then Continue For
  Console.WriteLine(i)   ' Only prints 4
Next

// no "until" keyword
while (c < 10)
  c++;


for (c = 2; c <= 10; c += 2)
  Console.WriteLine(c);

Post-test Loop:

do
  c++;
while (c < 10);

// Array or collection looping
string[] names = {"Fred", "Sue", "Barney"};
foreach (string s in names)
  Console.WriteLine(s);

// Breaking out of loops
int i = 0;
while (true) {
  if (i == 5)
    break;
  i++;
}

// Continue to next iteration
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
  if (i < 4)
    continue;
  Console.WriteLine(i);   // Only prints 4
}

Dim nums() As Integer = {1, 2, 3} 
For i As Integer = 0 To nums.Length - 1
  Console.WriteLine(nums(i))
Next

' 4 is the index of the last element, so it holds 5 elements
Dim names(4) As String
names(0) = "David"
names(5) = "Bobby"  ' Throws System.IndexOutOfRangeException

' Resize the array, keeping the existing values (Preserve is optional)
ReDim Preserve names(6)

Dim twoD(rows-1, cols-1) As Single
twoD(2, 0) = 4.5

Dim jagged()() As Integer = { _
  New Integer(4) {}, New Integer(1) {}, New Integer(2) {} }
jagged(0)(4) = 5

int[] nums = {1, 2, 3};
for (int i = 0; i < nums.Length; i++)
  Console.WriteLine(nums[i]);


// 5 is the size of the array
string[] names = new string[5];
names[0] = "David";
names[5] = "Bobby";   // Throws System.IndexOutOfRangeException


// C# can't dynamically resize an array.  Just copy into new array.
string[] names2 = new string[7];
Array.Copy(names, names2, names.Length);   // or names.CopyTo(names2, 0); 

float[,] twoD = new float[rows, cols];
twoD[2,0] = 4.5f; 

int[][] jagged = new int[3][] {
  new int[5], new int[2], new int[3] };
jagged[0][4] = 5;

' Pass by value (in, default), reference (in/out), and reference (out) 
Sub TestFunc(ByVal x As Integer, ByRef y As Integer, ByRef z As Integer)
  x += 1
  y += 1
  z = 5
End Sub

Dim a = 1, b = 1, c As Integer   ' c set to zero by default 
TestFunc(a, b, c)
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1} {2}", a, b, c)   ' 1 2 5

' Accept variable number of arguments
Function Sum(ByVal ParamArray nums As Integer()) As Integer
  Sum = 0 
  For Each i As Integer In nums
    Sum += i
  Next
End Function   ' Or use Return statement like C#

Dim total As Integer = Sum(4, 3, 2, 1)   ' returns 10

' Optional parameters must be listed last and must have a default value
Sub SayHello(ByVal name As String, Optional ByVal prefix As String = "")
  Console.WriteLine("Greetings, " & prefix & " " & name)
End Sub

SayHello("Strangelove", "Dr.")
SayHello("Mom")

int a = 1, b = 1, c;  // c doesn't need initializing
TestFunc(a, ref b, out c);
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1} {2}", a, b, c);  // 1 2 5

// Accept variable number of arguments
int Sum(params int[] nums) {
  int sum = 0;
  foreach (int i in nums)
    sum += i;
  return sum;
}

int total = Sum(4, 3, 2, 1);   // returns 10

/* C# 4.0 supports optional parameters. Previous versions required function overloading. */ 
void SayHello(string name, string prefix = "") {
  Console.WriteLine("Greetings, " + prefix + " " + name);
} 

SayHello("Strangelove", "Dr.");
SayHello("Mom");

Special character constants (all also accessible from ControlChars class)
vbCrLf, vbCr, vbLf, vbNewLine
vbNullString
vbTab
vbBack
vbFormFeed
vbVerticalTab
""

' String concatenation (use & or +)
Dim school As String = "Harding" & vbTab
school = school & "University" ' school is "Harding (tab) University"

' Chars
Dim letter As Char = school.Chars(0)   ' letter is H
letter = "Z"c                                         ' letter is Z
letter = Convert.ToChar(65)                ' letter is A
letter = Chr(65)                                 ' same thing
Dim word() As Char = school.ToCharArray() ' word holds Harding

' No string literal operator
Dim msg As String = "File is c:\temp\x.dat"

' String comparison
Dim mascot As String = "Bisons"
If (mascot = "Bisons") Then   ' true
If (mascot.Equals("Bisons")) Then   ' true
If (mascot.ToUpper().Equals("BISONS")) Then  ' true
If (mascot.CompareTo("Bisons") = 0) Then   ' true

' String matching with Like - Regex is more powerful
If ("John 3:16" Like "Jo[Hh]? #:*") Then   'true

' Substring
s = mascot.Substring(2, 3)) ' s is "son"

' Replacement
s = mascot.Replace("sons", "nomial")) ' s is "Binomial"

' Split
Dim names As String = "Michael,Dwight,Jim,Pam"
Dim parts() As String = names.Split(",".ToCharArray())   ' One name in each slot

' Date to string
Dim dt As New DateTime(1973, 10, 12)
Dim s As String = "My birthday: " & dt.ToString("MMM dd, yyyy")   ' Oct 12, 1973

' Integer to String
Dim x As Integer = 2
Dim y As String = x.ToString()     ' y is "2"

' String to Integer
Dim x As Integer = Convert.ToInt32("-5")     ' x is -5

' Mutable string
Dim buffer As New System.Text.StringBuilder("two ")
buffer.Append("three ")
buffer.Insert(0, "one ")
buffer.Replace("two", "TWO")
Console.WriteLine(buffer)         ' Prints "one TWO three"

Escape sequences
\r    // carriage-return
\n    // line-feed
\t    // tab
\\    // backslash
\"    // quote

 

// String concatenation
string school = "Harding\t";
school = school + "University";   // school is "Harding (tab) University"

// Chars
char letter = school[0];            // letter is H
letter = 'Z';                               // letter is Z
letter = Convert.ToChar(65);     // letter is A
letter = (char)65;                    // same thing
char[] word = school.ToCharArray();   // word holds Harding

// String literal
string msg = @"File is c:\temp\x.dat";
// same as
string msg = "File is c:\\temp\\x.dat";

// String comparison
string mascot = "Bisons";
if (mascot == "Bisons")    // true
if (mascot.Equals("Bisons"))   // true
if (mascot.ToUpper().Equals("BISONS"))   // true
if (mascot.CompareTo("Bisons") == 0)    // true

// String matching - No Like equivalent, use Regex

// Substring
s = mascot.Substring(2, 3))     // s is "son"

// Replacement
s = mascot.Replace("sons", "nomial"))     // s is "Binomial"

// Split
string names = "Michael,Dwight,Jim,Pam";
string[] parts = names.Split(",".ToCharArray());   // One name in each slot

// Date to string
DateTime dt = new DateTime(1973, 10, 12);
string s = dt.ToString("MMM dd, yyyy");     // Oct 12, 1973

// int to string
int x = 2;
string y = x.ToString();     // y is "2"

// Mutable string
System.Text.StringBuilder buffer = new System.Text.StringBuilder("two ");
buffer.Append("three ");
buffer.Insert(0, "one ");
buffer.Replace("two", "TWO");
Console.WriteLine(buffer);     // Prints "one TWO three"

Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions

' Match a string pattern
Dim r As New Regex("j[aeiou]h?. \d:*", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase Or _
        RegexOptions.Compiled)
If (r.Match("John 3:16").Success) Then   'true
    Console.WriteLine("Match")
End If

' Find and remember all matching patterns
Dim s As String = "My number is 305-1881, not 305-1818."
Dim r As New Regex("(\d+-\d+)")
Dim m As Match = r.Match(s)     ' Matches 305-1881 and 305-1818
While m.Success
    Console.WriteLine("Found number: " & m.Groups(1).Value & " at position " _
            & m.Groups(1).Index.ToString)
    m = m.NextMatch()
End While

' Remeber multiple parts of matched pattern
Dim r As New Regex("(\d\d):(\d\d) (am|pm)")
Dim m As Match = r.Match("We left at 03:15 pm.")
If m.Success Then
    Console.WriteLine("Hour: " & m.Groups(1).ToString)       ' 03
    Console.WriteLine("Min: " & m.Groups(2).ToString)         ' 15
    Console.WriteLine("Ending: " & m.Groups(3).ToString)   ' pm
End If

' Replace all occurrances of a pattern
Dim r As New Regex("h\w+?d", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
Dim s As String = r.Replace("I heard this was HARD!", "easy")   ' I easy this was easy!

' Replace matched patterns
Dim s As String = Regex.Replace("123 < 456", "(\d+) . (\d+)", "$2 > $1")   ' 456 > 123

' Split a string based on a pattern
Dim names As String = "Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam"
Dim r As New Regex(",\s*")
Dim parts() As String = r.Split(names)   ' One name in each slot

using System.Text.RegularExpressions;

// Match a string pattern
Regex r = new Regex(@"j[aeiou]h?. \d:*", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase |
        RegexOptions.Compiled);
if (r.Match("John 3:16").Success)   // true
    Console.WriteLine("Match");

// Find and remember all matching patterns
string s = "My number is 305-1881, not 305-1818.";
Regex r = new Regex("(\\d+-\\d+)");
// Matches 305-1881 and 305-1818
for (Match m = r.Match(s); m.Success; m = m.NextMatch())
    Console.WriteLine("Found number: " + m.Groups[1] + " at position " +
        m.Groups[1].Index);

// Remeber multiple parts of matched pattern
Regex r = new Regex("@(\d\d):(\d\d) (am|pm)");
Match m = r.Match("We left at 03:15 pm.");
if (m.Success) {
    Console.WriteLine("Hour: " + m.Groups[1]);       // 03
    Console.WriteLine("Min: " + m.Groups[2]);         // 15
    Console.WriteLine("Ending: " + m.Groups[3]);   // pm
}

// Replace all occurrances of a pattern
Regex r = new Regex("h\\w+?d", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);
string s = r.Replace("I heard this was HARD!", "easy"));   // I easy this was easy!

// Replace matched patterns
string s = Regex.Replace("123 < 456", @"(\d+) . (\d+)", "$2 > $1");   // 456 > 123

// Split a string based on a pattern
string names = "Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam";
Regex r = new Regex(@",\s*");
string[] parts = r.Split(names);   // One name in each slot

' Throw an exception
Dim ex As New Exception("Something is really wrong.")
Throw  ex 

' Catch an exception
Try 
  y = 0
  x = 10 / y
Catch ex As Exception When y = 0 ' Argument and When is optional
  Console.WriteLine(ex.Message)
Finally
  Beep()
End Try

' Deprecated unstructured error handling
On Error GoTo MyErrorHandler
...
MyErrorHandler: Console.WriteLine(Err.Description)

// Throw an exception
Exception up = new Exception("Something is really wrong.");
throw up;  // ha ha

// Catch an exception
try { 
  y = 0;
  x = 10 / y;
}
catch (Exception ex) {   // Argument is optional, no "When" keyword 
  Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
}
finally {
  Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.Beep();
}

Namespace Harding.Compsci.Graphics 
  ...
End Namespace

' or

Namespace Harding
  Namespace Compsci
    Namespace Graphics 
      ...
    End Namespace
  End Namespace
End Namespace

Imports Harding.Compsci.Graphics

namespace Harding.Compsci.Graphics {
  ...
}

// or

namespace Harding {
  namespace Compsci {
    namespace Graphics {
      ...
    }
  }
}

using Harding.Compsci.Graphics;

Access Modifiers
Public
Private
Friend
Protected
Protected Friend

Class Modifiers
MustInherit
NotInheritable

Method Modifiers
MustOverride
NotInheritable
Shared
Overridable

' All members are Shared
Module

' Partial classes
Partial Class Competition
  ...
End Class 

' Inheritance
Class FootballGame
  Inherits Competition
  ...
End Class 

' Interface definition
Interface IAlarmClock 
  ...
End Interface

// Extending an interface 
Interface IAlarmClock
  Inherits IClock
  ...
End Interface

// Interface implementation
Class WristWatch 
  Implements IAlarmClock, ITimer 
   ...
End Class 

Access Modifiers
public
private
internal
protected
protected internal

Class Modifiers
abstract
sealed
static

Method Modifiers
abstract
sealed
static
virtual

No Module equivalent - just use static class

// Partial classes
partial class Competition {
  ...
}

// Inheritance
class FootballGame : Competition {
  ...
}

// Interface definition
interface IAlarmClock {
  ...
}

// Extending an interface 
interface IAlarmClock : IClock {
  ...
}

// Interface implementation
class WristWatch : IAlarmClock, ITimer {
   ...
}

class SuperHero {
  private int powerLevel;

  public SuperHero() {
     powerLevel = 0;
  }

  public SuperHero(int powerLevel) {
    this.powerLevel = powerLevel; 
  }

  static SuperHero() {
    // Static constructor invoked before 1st instance is created
  }

  ~SuperHero() {
    // Destructor implicitly creates a Finalize method
  }
}

Dim hero As SuperHero = New SuperHero
' or
Dim hero As New SuperHero

With hero
  .Name = "SpamMan"
  .PowerLevel = 3
End With

hero.Defend("Laura Jones")
hero.Rest()     ' Calling Shared method
' or
SuperHero.Rest()

Dim hero2 As SuperHero = hero  ' Both reference the same object
hero2.Name = "WormWoman"
Console.WriteLine(hero.Name)   ' Prints WormWoman

hero = Nothing    ' Free the object

If hero Is Nothing Then _
  hero = New SuperHero

Dim obj As Object = New SuperHero
If TypeOf obj Is SuperHero Then _
  Console.WriteLine("Is a SuperHero object.")

' Mark object for quick disposal
Using reader As StreamReader = File.OpenText("test.txt")
  Dim line As String = reader.ReadLine()
  While Not line Is Nothing
    Console.WriteLine(line)
    line = reader.ReadLine()
  End While
End Using

SuperHero hero = new SuperHero();


 

// No "With" construct
hero.Name = "SpamMan";
hero.PowerLevel = 3;

 

hero.Defend("Laura Jones");
SuperHero.Rest();   // Calling static method

SuperHero hero2 = hero;   // Both reference the same object
hero2.Name = "WormWoman";
Console.WriteLine(hero.Name);   // Prints WormWoman

hero = null ;   // Free the object

if (hero == null)
  hero = new SuperHero();

Object obj = new SuperHero(); 
if (obj is SuperHero)
  Console.WriteLine("Is a SuperHero object.");

Structure StudentRecord
  Public name As String
  Public gpa As Single

  Public Sub New(ByVal name As String, ByVal gpa As Single)
    Me.name = name
    Me.gpa = gpa
  End Sub
End Structure

Dim stu As StudentRecord = New StudentRecord("Bob", 3.5)
Dim stu2 As StudentRecord = stu  

stu2.name = "Sue"
Console.WriteLine(stu.name)    ' Prints Bob
Console.WriteLine(stu2.name)  ' Prints Sue

StudentRecord stu = new StudentRecord("Bob", 3.5f);
StudentRecord stu2 = stu;  

stu2.name = "Sue";
Console.WriteLine(stu.name);    // Prints Bob
Console.WriteLine(stu2.name);   // Prints Sue

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