VB.NET and C# ComparisonThis is a quick reference guide to highlight some key syntactical differences between VB.NETand C#. Hope you find this useful!Thank you to Tom Shelton, Fergus Cooney, and others for your input.
Comments Data Types Constants Enumerations Operators | Choices Loops Arrays Functions Exception Handling | Namespaces Classes / Interfaces Constructors / Destructors Objects Structs | Properties Delegates / Events Console I/O File I/O |
VB.NET | C# | ||||||||||
Comments | |||||||||||
' Single line onlyRem Single line only | // Single line/* Multiple line *//// XML comments on single line/** XML comments on multiple lines */ | ||||||||||
Data Types | |||||||||||
Value TypesBooleanByteChar (example: "A"c)Short, Integer, LongSingle, DoubleDecimalDate Reference TypesObjectString Dim x As Integer Console.WriteLine(x.GetType()) ' Prints System.Int32 Console.WriteLine(TypeName(x)) ' Prints Integer ' Type conversionDim numDecimal As Single = 3.5 Dim numInt As IntegernumInt = CType(numDecimal, Integer) ' set to 4 (Banker's rounding)numInt = CInt(numDecimal) ' same result as CTypenumInt = Int(numDecimal) ' set to 3 (Int function truncates the decimal) | Value Typesboolbyte, sbytechar (example: 'A')short, ushort, int, uint, long, ulongfloat, doubledecimalDateTime (not a built-in C# type) Reference Typesobjectstring int x;Console.WriteLine(x.GetType()); // Prints System.Int32Console.WriteLine(typeof(int)); // Prints System.Int32 // Type conversion double numDecimal = 3.5; int numInt = (int) numDecimal; // set to 3 (truncates decimal) | ||||||||||
Constants | |||||||||||
Const MAX_STUDENTS As Integer = 25 | const int MAX_STUDENTS = 25; | ||||||||||
Enumerations | |||||||||||
Enum Action Start [Stop] ' Stop is a reserved word Rewind Forward End Enum Enum Status Flunk = 50 Pass = 70 Excel = 90 End EnumDim a As Action = Action.Stop If a <> Action.Start Then Console.WriteLine(a) ' Prints 1 Console.WriteLine(Status.Pass) ' Prints 70 Dim s As Type = GetType(Status) Console.WriteLine([Enum].GetName(s, Status.Pass)) ' Prints Pass | enum Action {Start, Stop, Rewind, Forward};enum Status {Flunk = 50, Pass = 70, Excel = 90};Action a = Action.Stop;if (a != Action.Start) Console.WriteLine(a + " is " + (int) a); // Prints "Stop is 1"Console.WriteLine(Status.Pass); // Prints Pass | ||||||||||
Operators | |||||||||||
Comparison= < > <= >= <> Arithmetic+ - * /Mod/ (integer division)^ (raise to a power) Assignment= += -= *= /= /= ^= <<= >>= &= BitwiseAnd AndAlso Or OrElse Not << >> LogicalAnd AndAlso Or OrElse Not Note: AndAlso and OrElse are for short-circuiting 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+ | ||||||||||
Choices | |||||||||||
greeting = IIf(age < 20, "What's up?", "Hello") ' One line doesn't require "End If", no "Else"If language = "VB.NET" Then langType = "verbose" ' Use : to put two commands on same lineIf x <> 100 Then x *= 5 : y *= 2 ' or to break up any long single command use _If whenYouHaveAReally < longLine And itNeedsToBeBrokenInto2 > Lines Then _ UseTheUnderscore(charToBreakItUp) 'If x > 5 Then x *= y ElseIf x = 5 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 | greeting = age < 20 ? "What's up?" : "Hello"; if (x != 100) { // Multiple statements must be enclosed in {} x *= 5; y *= 2;} No need for _ or : since ; is used to terminate each statement. if (x > 5) x *= y; else if (x == 5) x += y; else if (x < 10) x -= y; else x /= y; switch (color) { // Must be integer or string case "pink": case "red": r++; break; // break is mandatory; no fall-through case "blue": b++; break; case "green": g++; break; default: other++; break; // break necessary on default} | ||||||||||
Loops | |||||||||||
' Array or collection loopingDim names As String() = {"Fred", "Sue", "Barney"} For Each s As String In names Console.WriteLine(s) Next | Pre-test Loops: // no "until" keywordwhile (i < 10) i++;for (i = 2; i < = 10; i += 2) Console.WriteLine(i); Post-test Loop:do i++; while (i < 10);// Array or collection loopingstring[] names = {"Fred", "Sue", "Barney"};foreach (string s in names) Console.WriteLine(s); | ||||||||||
Arrays | |||||||||||
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 elementsDim 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) = 4.5Dim 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 arraystring[] names = new string[5];names[0] = "David";names[5] = "Bobby"; // Throws System.IndexOutOfRangeException // C# doesn't 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; | ||||||||||
Functions | |||||||||||
' 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 SubSayHello("Strangelove", "Dr.")SayHello("Madonna") | // Pass by value (in, default), reference (in/out), and reference (out)void TestFunc(int x, ref int y, out int z) { x++; y++; z = 5;} int a = 1, b = 1, c; // c doesn't need initializingTestFunc(a, ref b, out c);Console.WriteLine("{0} {1} {2}", a, b, c); // 1 2 5 // Accept variable number of argumentsint 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# doesn't support optional arguments/parameters. Just create two different versions of the same function. */ void SayHello(string name, string prefix) { Console.WriteLine("Greetings, " + prefix + " " + name);} void SayHello(string name) { SayHello(name, ""); } | ||||||||||
Exception Handling | |||||||||||
' Deprecated unstructured error handlingOn Error GoTo MyErrorHandler...MyErrorHandler: Console.WriteLine(Err.Description)Dim ex As New Exception("Something is really wrong.") Throw ex Try y = 0 x = 10 / yCatch ex As Exception When y = 0 ' Argument and When is optional Console.WriteLine(ex.Message) Finally Beep() End Try | Exception up = new Exception("Something is really wrong."); throw up; // ha ha try { y = 0; x = 10 / y; } catch (Exception ex) { // Argument is optional, no "When" keyword Console.WriteLine(ex.Message); } finally { // Must use unmanaged MessageBeep API function to beep } | ||||||||||
Namespaces | |||||||||||
Namespace Harding.Compsci.Graphics ...End Namespace ' or Namespace Harding Namespace Compsci Namespace Graphics ... End Namespace End Namespace End Namespace Import Harding.Compsci.Graphics | namespace Harding.Compsci.Graphics { ...} // or namespace Harding { namespace Compsci { namespace Graphics { ... } }} using Harding.Compsci.Graphics; | ||||||||||
Classes / Interfaces | |||||||||||
Accessibility keywords PublicPrivateFriend ProtectedProtected FriendShared ' InheritanceClass FootballGame Inherits Competition ...End Class ' Interface definitionInterface IAlarmClock ...End Interface // Extending an interface Interface IAlarmClock Inherits IClock ...End Interface // Interface implementationClass WristWatch Implements IAlarmClock, ITimer ...End Class | Accessibility keywords publicprivateinternalprotectedprotected internalstatic // Inheritanceclass FootballGame : Competition { ...} // Interface definitioninterface IAlarmClock { ...} // Extending an interface interface IAlarmClock : IClock { ...} // Interface implementationclass WristWatch : IAlarmClock, ITimer { ...} | ||||||||||
Constructors / Destructors | |||||||||||
Class SuperHero Private _powerLevel As Integer Public Sub New () _powerLevel = 0 End Sub Public Sub New (ByVal powerLevel As Integer) Me._powerLevel = powerLevel End Sub Protected Overrides Sub Finalize () ' Desctructor code to free unmanaged resources MyBase.Finalize() End SubEnd Class | class SuperHero { private int _powerLevel; public SuperHero() { _powerLevel = 0; } public SuperHero(int powerLevel) { this._powerLevel= powerLevel; } ~SuperHero() { // Destructor code to free unmanaged resources. // Implicitly creates a Finalize method }} | ||||||||||
Objects | |||||||||||
Dim hero As SuperHero = New SuperHero With hero .Name = "SpamMan" .PowerLevel = 3 End With hero.Defend("Laura Jones") hero.Rest() ' Calling Shared method' orSuperHero.Rest() Dim hero2 As SuperHero = hero ' Both refer to 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.") | SuperHero hero = new SuperHero(); // No "With" constructhero.Name = "SpamMan"; hero.PowerLevel = 3; hero.Defend("Laura Jones");SuperHero.Rest(); // Calling static method SuperHero hero2 = hero; // Both refer to 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."); | ||||||||||
Structs | |||||||||||
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 | struct StudentRecord { public string name; public float gpa; public StudentRecord(string name, float gpa) { this.name = name; this.gpa = gpa; }} StudentRecord stu = new StudentRecord("Bob", 3.5f);StudentRecord stu2 = stu; stu2.name = "Sue";Console.WriteLine(stu.name); // Prints BobConsole.WriteLine(stu2.name); // Prints Sue | ||||||||||
Properties | |||||||||||
Private _size As IntegerPublic Property Size() As Integer Get Return _size End Get Set (ByVal Value As Integer) If Value < 0 Then _size = 0 Else _size = Value End If End Set End Property foo.Size += 1 | private int _size;public int Size { get { return _size; } set { if (value < 0) _size = 0; else _size = value; } } foo.Size++; | ||||||||||
Delegates / Events | |||||||||||
Delegate Sub MsgArrivedEventHandler(ByVal message As String) Event MsgArrivedEvent As MsgArrivedEventHandler ' or to define an event which declares a delegate implicitlyEvent MsgArrivedEvent(ByVal message As String) AddHandler MsgArrivedEvent, AddressOf My_MsgArrivedCallback ' Won't throw an exception if obj is NothingRaiseEvent MsgArrivedEvent("Test message") RemoveHandler MsgArrivedEvent, AddressOf My_MsgArrivedCallback Imports System.Windows.Forms Dim WithEvents MyButton As Button ' WithEvents can't be used on local variableMyButton = New Button Private Sub MyButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _ ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyButton.Click MessageBox.Show(Me, "Button was clicked", "Info", _ MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information) End Sub | delegate void MsgArrivedEventHandler(string message); event MsgArrivedEventHandler MsgArrivedEvent; // Delegates must be used with events in C#MsgArrivedEvent += new MsgArrivedEventHandler(My_MsgArrivedEventCallback);MsgArrivedEvent("Test message"); // Throws exception if obj is nullMsgArrivedEvent -= new MsgArrivedEventHandler(My_MsgArrivedEventCallback); using System.Windows.Forms; Button MyButton = new Button(); MyButton.Click += new System.EventHandler(MyButton_Click); private void MyButton_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) { MessageBox.Show(this, "Button was clicked", "Info", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information); } | ||||||||||
Console I/O | |||||||||||
Special character constantsvbCrLf, vbCr, vbLf, vbNewLine vbNullString vbTab vbBack vbFormFeed vbVerticalTab"" Chr(65) ' Returns 'A' Console.Write("What's your name? ") Dim name As String = Console.ReadLine() Console.Write("How old are you? ") Dim age As Integer = Val(Console.ReadLine()) Console.WriteLine("{0} is {1} years old.", name, age) ' or Console.WriteLine(name & " is " & age & " years old.") Dim c As Integer c = Console.Read() ' Read single char Console.WriteLine(c) ' Prints 65 if user enters "A" | Escape sequences/n, /r/t///" Convert.ToChar(65) // Returns 'A' - equivalent to Chr(num) in VB// or(char) 65 Console.Write("What's your name? ");string name = Console.ReadLine();Console.Write("How old are you? ");int age = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());Console.WriteLine("{0} is {1} years old.", name, age);// orConsole.WriteLine(name + " is " + age + " years old."); int c = Console.Read(); // Read single charConsole.WriteLine(c); // Prints 65 if user enters "A" | ||||||||||
File I/O | |||||||||||
Imports System.IO Dim writer As StreamWriter = File.CreateText("c:/myfile.txt") writer.WriteLine("Out to file.") writer.Close() Dim reader As StreamReader = File.OpenText("c:/myfile.txt") Dim line As String = reader.ReadLine() While Not line Is Nothing Console.WriteLine("line=" & line) line = reader.ReadLine() End While reader.Close() Dim str As String = "Text data" Dim num As Integer = 123 Dim binWriter As New BinaryWriter (File.OpenWrite("c:/myfile.dat")) binWriter.Write(str) binWriter.Write(num) binWriter.Close() Dim binReader As New BinaryReader (File.OpenRead("c:/myfile.dat")) str = binReader.ReadString() num = binReader.ReadInt32() binReader.Close() | using System.IO; StreamWriter writer = File.CreateText("c://myfile.txt"); writer.WriteLine("Out to file."); writer.Close(); StreamReader reader = File.OpenText("c://myfile.txt"); string line = reader.ReadLine(); while (line != null) { Console.WriteLine(line); line = reader.ReadLine(); } reader.Close(); string str = "Text data"; int num = 123; BinaryWriter binWriter = new BinaryWriter(File.OpenWrite("c://myfile.dat")); binWriter.Write(str); binWriter.Write(num); binWriter.Close(); BinaryReader binReader = new BinaryReader(File.OpenRead("c://myfile.dat")); str = binReader.ReadString(); num = binReader.ReadInt32(); binReader.Close(); |
Page last modified: <script>document.writeln(document.lastModified)</script> 01/14/2004 05:34:59 Please send any corrections or comments to fmccown@harding.edu.Home