Editing Visual Basic (.NET)

{{Short description|Object-oriented computer programming language}}
{{About|the modern programming language for .NET|the original Visual Basic, the last version of which was Visual Basic 6.0|Visual Basic (classic)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox programming language
| name = Visual Basic
| logo = VB.NET Logo.svg
| year = {{Start date and age|2001}}
| designer = [[Microsoft]]
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|reference|edit|P348}}
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P577}}}}
| implementations = [[.NET Framework SDK]], [[Roslyn (compiler)|Roslyn Compiler]] and [[Mono (software)|Mono]]
| influenced_by = [[Visual Basic (classic)|Classic Visual Basic]]
| influenced = [[Microsoft Small Basic|Small Basic]], [[Mercury (RemObjects BASIC programming language)|Mercury]]
| typing = [[Dynamicly typed|Static]], [[Strong and weak typing|both strong and weak]],<ref name="option strict explicit" />  [[Type system#Safely and unsafely typed systems|both safe and unsafe]],<ref name="option strict explicit" /> [[Nominative type system|nominative]]
| dialects = Microsoft Visual Basic
| screenshot caption = 
| paradigm = [[Programming paradigm#Multi-paradigm|Multi-paradigm]]: [[Structured programming|structured]], [[Imperative programming|imperative]], [[Object-oriented programming|object-oriented]], [[Declarative programming|declarative]], [[generic programming|generic]], [[reflective programming|reflective]] and [[Event-driven programming|event-driven]]
| platform = [[.NET Framework]], [[Mono (software)|Mono]], [[.NET]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vbteam/2018/11/12/visual-basic-in-net-core-3-0/|title=Visual Basic in .NET Core 3.0|first=Kathleen|last=Dollard|website=blogs.msdn.microsoft.com|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=November 21, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119070011/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vbteam/2018/11/12/visual-basic-in-net-core-3-0/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="devblogs-2020-03-11">{{cite web |url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/vbteam/visual-basic-support-planned-for-net-5-0/ |title=Visual Basic support planned for .NET 5.0 &#124; Visual Basic Blog |publisher=Blogs.msdn.microsoft.com |date=2020-03-11 |access-date=2020-08-26 |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105022953/https://devblogs.microsoft.com/vbteam/visual-basic-support-planned-for-net-5-0/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| operating_system = Chiefly [[Windows]]<br/>Also on [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[BSD]], [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]], [[Linux]], [[macOS]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], and [[Unix]] <!-- Mono implementations, remember? -->
| license = [[Roslyn (compiler)|Roslyn]] compiler: [[MIT License]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/dotnet/roslyn/blob/0d04884c243978cdd609e219fdb63cb58ebec69d/License.txt|title=Dotnet/Roslyn|website=[[GitHub]]|date=November 26, 2024}}</ref><br/>
| website = {{URL|https://docs.microsoft.com/dotnet/visual-basic/}}
| file_ext = <code>.vb</code>
}}

'''Visual Basic''' ('''VB'''), originally called '''Visual Basic .NET''' ('''VB.NET'''), is a [[Multi-paradigm programming language|multi-paradigm]], [[Object-oriented programming|object-oriented]] [[programming language]] developed by [[Microsoft]] and implemented on [[.NET]], [[Mono (software)|Mono]], and the [[.NET Framework]]. Microsoft launched VB.NET in 2002 as the successor to its [[Visual Basic (classic)|original Visual Basic]] language, the last version of which was Visual Basic 6.0. Although the ".NET" portion of the name was dropped in 2005, this article uses "Visual Basic [.NET]" to refer to all Visual Basic languages released since 2002, in order to distinguish between them and the [[Visual Basic (classic)|classic Visual Basic]]. Along with [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] and [[F Sharp (programming language)|F#]], it is one of the three main languages targeting the .NET ecosystem. Microsoft updated its VB language strategy on 6 February 2023, stating that VB is a stable language now and Microsoft will keep maintaining it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KathleenDollard |title=Visual Basic language strategy - Visual Basic |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/strategy |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=learn.microsoft.com |date=February 6, 2023 |language=en-us |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331060301/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/strategy |url-status=live }}</ref>

Microsoft's [[integrated development environment]] (IDE) for developing in Visual Basic is [[Visual Studio]]. Most Visual Studio editions are [[commercial software|commercial]]; the only exceptions are [[Visual Studio Express]] and [[Microsoft Visual Studio#Community|Visual Studio Community]], which are [[freeware]]. In addition, the [[.NET Framework SDK]] includes a freeware [[command-line]] [[compiler]] called vbc.exe. [[Mono (software)|Mono]] also includes a command-line VB.NET compiler.

Visual Basic is often used in conjunction with the [[Windows Forms]] [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] [[Library (computing)|library]] to make [[Application software|desktop apps]] for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]. Programming for Windows Forms with Visual Basic involves dragging and dropping controls on a form using a [[Graphical user interface builder|GUI designer]] and writing corresponding code for each control.

== Use in making GUI programs ==
{{See also|Windows Forms}}
The Windows Forms library is most commonly used to create GUI interfaces in Visual Basic. All visual elements in the Windows Forms class library derive from the Control class. This provides the minimal functionality of a user interface element such as location, size, color, font, text, as well as common events like click and drag/drop. The Control class also has docking support to let a control rearrange its position under its parent.

Forms are typically designed in the [[Visual Studio]] [[Integrated development environment|IDE]]. In Visual Studio, forms are created using [[drag-and-drop]] techniques. A tool is used to place controls (e.g., text boxes, buttons, etc.) on the form (window).  Controls have [[Attribute (computing)|attributes]] and [[event handler]]s associated with them. Default values are provided when the control is created, but may be changed by the programmer.  Many attribute values can be modified during run time based on user actions or changes in the environment, providing a dynamic application.  For example, code can be inserted into the form resize event handler to reposition a control so that it remains centered on the form, expands to fill up the form, etc. By inserting code into the event handler for a keypress in a text box, the program can automatically translate the case of the text being entered, or even prevent certain characters from being inserted.

== Syntax ==
{{Expand section|date=April 2014}}
Visual Basic uses [[Statement (computer science)|statements]] to specify actions. The most common statement is an expression statement, consisting of an [[Expression (computer science)|expression]] to be evaluated, on a single line. As part of that evaluation, [[subroutine|functions or subroutines]] may be [[System call|called]] and [[Variable (programming)|variables]] may be [[assignment (computer science)|assigned]] new values. To modify the normal sequential execution of statements, Visual Basic provides several control-flow statements identified by reserved keywords. [[Structured programming]] is supported by several constructs including two conditional execution constructs (<code>If</code> ... <code>Then</code> ... <code>Else</code> ... <code>End If</code> and  <code>Select Case</code> ...  <code>Case</code> ...  <code>End Select</code> ) and four iterative execution (loop) constructs (<code>Do</code> ... <code>Loop</code>, <code>For</code> ... <code>To</code>, <code>For Each</code>, and <code>While</code> ... <code>End While</code>) . The <code>For</code> ... <code>To</code> statement has separate initialisation and testing sections, both of which must be present. (See examples below.) The <code>For Each</code> statement steps through each value in a list.

In addition, in Visual Basic:
* There is no unified way of defining blocks of statements. Instead, certain keywords, such as "If … Then" or "Sub" are interpreted as starters of sub-blocks of code and have matching termination keywords such as "End If" or "End Sub".
* Statements are terminated either with a [[Colon (punctuation)|colon]] (":") or with the [[end of line]]. Multiple-line statements in Visual Basic are enabled with " _" at the end of each such line.  The need for the underscore continuation character was largely removed in version 10 and later versions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff637436.aspx |title=New Features in Visual Basic 10 |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304231731/https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff637436.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The [[equals sign]] ("=") is used in both assigning values to variables and in comparison.
* [[Parentheses|Round brackets]] (parentheses) are used with [[Array data structure|arrays]], both to declare them and to get a value at a given index in one of them. Visual Basic uses round brackets to define the parameters of subroutines or functions.
* A [[single quotation mark]] (') or the keyword <code>REM</code>, placed at the beginning of a line or after any number of [[Space character|space]] or [[Tab character|tab]] characters at the beginning of a line, or after other code on a line, indicates that the (remainder of the) line is a [[Comment (computer programming)|comment]].

=== Simple example ===
The following is a very simple Visual Basic program, a version of the classic "[[Hello, World!]]" example created as a console application:

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Module Module1

    Sub Main()
        ' The classic "Hello, World!" demonstration program
        Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!")
    End Sub

End Module
</syntaxhighlight>

It prints "''Hello, World!''" on a [[command-line interface|command-line window]]. Each line serves a specific purpose, as follows:

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Module Module1
</syntaxhighlight>

This is a module definition. Modules are a division of code, which can contain any kind of object, like constants or variables, functions or methods, or classes, but can not be instantiated as objects like classes and cannot inherit from other modules. Modules serve as containers of code that can be referenced from other parts of a program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aaxss7da(VS.80).aspx |title=Module Statement |publisher=MSDN – Developer Center |access-date=January 20, 2010 |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109092122/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aaxss7da(VS.80).aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><br />It is common practice for a module and the code file which contains it to have the same name. However, this is not required, as a single code file may contain more than one module or class.
<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Sub Main()
</syntaxhighlight>

This line defines a subroutine called "Main". "Main" is the entry point, where the program begins execution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms235406(VS.80).aspx |title=Main Procedure in Visual Basic |publisher=MSDN – Developer Center |access-date=January 20, 2010 |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128090733/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms235406(VS.80).aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Console.WriteLine("Hello, world!")
</syntaxhighlight>

This line performs the actual task of writing the output. ''Console'' is a system object, representing a command-line interface (also known as a "console") and granting programmatic access to the operating system's [[standard streams]]. The program calls the ''Console'' method ''WriteLine,'' which causes the string passed to it to be displayed on the console.

Instead of Console.WriteLine, one could use MsgBox, which prints the message in a dialog box instead of a command-line window.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3cf7t4xt(VS.80).aspx |title=Visual Basic Version of Hello, World |publisher=MSDN – Developer Center |access-date=January 20, 2010 |archive-date=January 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111152427/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3cf7t4xt(VS.80).aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Complex example ===
This piece of code outputs [[Floyd's Triangle]] to the console:
<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Imports System.Console

Module Program

    Sub Main()
        Dim rows As Integer

        ' Input validation.
        Do Until Integer.TryParse(ReadLine("Enter a value for how many rows to be displayed: " & vbcrlf), rows) AndAlso rows >= 1
            WriteLine("Allowed range is 1 and {0}", Integer.MaxValue)
        Loop
      
        ' Output of Floyd's Triangle
        Dim current As Integer = 1
        Dim row As Integer 
        Dim column As Integer
        For row = 1 To rows
            For column = 1 To row
                Write("{0,-2} ", current)
                current += 1
            Next

            WriteLine()
        Next
    End Sub

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Like Console.ReadLine but takes a prompt string.
    ''' </summary>
    Function ReadLine(Optional prompt As String = Nothing) As String
        If prompt IsNot Nothing Then
            Write(prompt)
        End If

        Return Console.ReadLine()
    End Function

End Module
</syntaxhighlight>

=== Comparison with the classic Visual Basic ===
{{Main|Comparison of Visual Basic and Visual Basic .NET}}
Whether Visual Basic .NET should be considered as just another version of Visual Basic or a completely different language is a topic of debate. There are new additions to support new features, such as [[exception handling|structured exception handling]] and short-circuited expressions. Also, two important data-type changes occurred with the move to VB.NET: compared to Visual Basic 6, the <code>Integer</code> [[data type]] has been doubled in length from 16 bits to 32 bits, and the <code>Long</code> [[data type]] has been doubled in length from 32 bits to 64 bits. This is true for all versions of VB.NET. A 16-bit integer in all versions of VB.NET is now known as a <code>Short</code>. Similarly, the [[Windows Forms]] editor is very similar in style and function to the Visual Basic form editor.

The things that ''have'' changed significantly are the semantics—from those of an object-based programming language running on a [[deterministic]], [[reference counting|reference-counted]] engine based on [[Component Object Model|COM]] to a fully [[object-oriented]] language backed by the [[.NET Framework]], which consists of a combination of the [[Common Language Runtime]] (a [[virtual machine]] using [[Garbage collection (computer science)#Generational GC (aka Ephemeral GC)|generational garbage collection]] and a [[just-in-time compilation]] engine) and a far larger [[class library]]. The increased breadth of the latter was also a problem that VB developers had to deal with when coming to the language, although this was somewhat addressed by the ''My'' feature in Visual Studio 2005.

The changes altered many underlying assumptions about the "right" thing to do with respect to the performance and maintainability of applications. Some functions and libraries no longer exist; others are available, but not as efficient as the "native" .NET alternatives. Even if they compiled, most converted Visual Basic 6 applications required some level of [[refactoring]] to take full advantage of the .NET language. Microsoft provided documentation to cover changes in language syntax, debugging applications, deployment, and terminology.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/ms788233|title = Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Migration Resource Center|access-date = November 9, 2014|website = [[MSDN]]|publisher = [[Microsoft]]|archive-date = November 9, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109140433/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/ms788233|url-status = live}}</ref> A popular trade book designed to ease the transition was [[Michael Halvorson|Michael Halvorson's]] ''Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Professional Step by Step'', published in 2002 by [[Microsoft Press]].

==== Comparative examples ====
The following simple examples compare VB and VB.NET syntax. They assume that the developer has created a form, placed a button on it and has associated the subroutines demonstrated in each example with the click [[event handler]] of the mentioned button. Each example creates a "Hello, World" message box after the button on the form is clicked.

Visual Basic 6:

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbscript">
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    MsgBox "Hello, World"
End Sub
</syntaxhighlight>

VB.NET (MsgBox or MessageBox class can be used):

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    MsgBox("Hello, World")
End Sub
</syntaxhighlight>
* Both Visual Basic 6 and Visual Basic .NET automatically generate the <code>Sub</code> and <code>End Sub</code> statements when the corresponding button is double-clicked in design view. Visual Basic .NET will also generate the necessary <code>Class</code> and <code>End Class</code> statements. The developer need only add the statement to display the "Hello, World" message box.
* All procedure calls must be made with parentheses in VB.NET, whereas in Visual Basic 6 there were different conventions for functions (parentheses required) and subs (no parentheses allowed, unless called using the keyword <code>Call</code>).
* The names <code>Command1</code> and <code>Button1</code> are not obligatory. However, these are default names for a command button in Visual Basic 6 and VB.NET respectively.
* In VB.NET, the <code>Handles</code> keyword is used to make the sub <code>Button1_Click</code> a handler for the <code>Click</code> event of the object <code>Button1</code>. In Visual Basic 6, event handler subs must have a specific name consisting of the object's name ({{code|Command1}}), an underscore ({{code|_}}), and the event's name ({{code|Click}}, hence {{code|Command1_Click}}).
* There is a function called <code>MessageBox.Show</code> in the <code>Microsoft.VisualBasic</code> namespace which can be used (instead of <code>MsgBox</code>) similarly to the corresponding function in Visual Basic 6. There is a controversy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=55979|title=Visual Studio 2003 Retired Technical documentation|website=Microsoft Download Center|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-date=December 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230014657/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa291820(VS.71).aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> about which function to use as a best practice (not only restricted to showing message boxes but also regarding other features of the <code>Microsoft.VisualBasic</code> namespace). Some programmers prefer to do things "the .NET way", since the Framework classes have more features and are less language-specific. Others argue that using language-specific features makes code more readable (for example, using <code>int</code> (C#) or <code>Integer</code> (VB.NET) instead of <code>System.Int32</code>).
* In Visual Basic 2008, the inclusion of {{code|2=vbnet|ByVal sender as Object}}, {{code|2=vbnet|ByVal e as EventArgs}} has become optional.

The following example demonstrates a difference between Visual Basic 6 and VB.NET. Both examples close the [[active window]].

Visual Basic 6:

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbscript">
Sub cmdClose_Click()
    Unload Me
End Sub
</syntaxhighlight>

VB.NET:

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Sub btnClose_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnClose.Click
    Close()
End Sub
</syntaxhighlight>

The 'cmd' prefix is replaced by the 'btn' prefix, conforming to the new convention previously mentioned.{{Which|date=November 2014}}

Visual Basic 6 did not provide common operator shortcuts. The following are equivalent:
<!-- Visual Basic 6 did NOT have an opacity setting for forms or any other standard control -->

Visual Basic 6:

<syntaxhighlight lang="vbscript">
Sub Timer1_Timer()
    'Reduces Form Height by one pixel per tick
    Me.Height = Me.Height - 1
End Sub
</syntaxhighlight>

VB.NET:
<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
    Me.Height -= 1
End Sub
</syntaxhighlight>

=== Comparison with C# ===
{{Main|Comparison of C Sharp and Visual Basic .NET}}

C# and Visual Basic are Microsoft's first languages made to program on the .NET Framework (later adding [[F Sharp (programming language)|F#]] and more; others have also added languages). Though C# and Visual Basic are syntactically different, that is where the differences mostly end. Microsoft developed both of these languages to be part of the same .NET Framework development platform. They are both developed, managed, and supported by the same language development team at Microsoft.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krill |first=Paul |url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/02/27/Microsoft_converging_programming_languages_1.html?R=printThis&A=/article/09/02/27/Microsoft_converging_programming_languages_1.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126074556/http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/02/27/Microsoft_converging_programming_languages_1.html?R=printThis&A=/article/09/02/27/Microsoft_converging_programming_languages_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |title=Microsoft converging programming languages &#124; Developer World |publisher=InfoWorld |date=February 27, 2009 |access-date=August 18, 2013 }}</ref>  They compile to the same intermediate language (IL), which runs against the same .NET Framework runtime libraries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dotnet-guide.com/msintermediate.html |title=Microsoft Intermediate Language |publisher=Dotnet-guide.com |access-date=August 18, 2013 |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602151947/http://www.dotnet-guide.com/msintermediate.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  Although there are some differences in the programming constructs, their differences are primarily syntactic and, assuming one avoids the Visual Basic "Compatibility" libraries provided by Microsoft to aid conversion from Visual Basic 6, almost every feature in VB has an equivalent feature in C# and vice versa. Lastly, both languages reference the same Base Classes of the .NET Framework to extend their functionality.  As a result, with few exceptions, a program written in either language can be run through a simple syntax converter to translate to the other. There are many open source and commercially available products for this task.

== Examples ==

=== Hello World! ===

==== Windows Forms Application ====
Requires a button called Button1.<syntaxhighlight lang="vb.net">
Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        MsgBox("Hello world!", MsgBoxStyle.Information, "Hello world!") ' Show a message that says "Hello world!".
    End Sub
End Class

</syntaxhighlight>
[[File:Hello world! Window.jpg|thumb|Hello world! window]]

==== Console Application ====
<syntaxhighlight lang="vb.net>
Module Module1

    Sub Main()
        Console.WriteLine("Hello world!") ' Write in the console "Hello world!" and start a new line.
        Console.ReadKey() ' The user must press any key before the application ends.
    End Sub
End Module

</syntaxhighlight>

=== Speaking ===

==== Windows Forms Application ====
Requires a TextBox titled 'TextBox1' and a button called Button1.<syntaxhighlight lang="vb.net">
Public Class Form1
    
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        CreateObject("Sapi.Spvoice").Speak(TextBox1.Text)
    End Sub
End Class    
</syntaxhighlight>

==== Console Application ====
<syntaxhighlight lang="vb.net" line="1" start="1">
Module Module1
    Private Voice = CreateObject("Sapi.Spvoice")
    Private Text As String

    Sub Main()
        Console.Write("Enter the text to speak: ") ' Say "Enter the text to speak: "
        Text = Console.ReadLine() ' The user must enter the text to speak.
        Voice.Speak(Text) ' Speak the text the user has entered.
    End Sub
End Module

</syntaxhighlight>

== Version history ==
Succeeding [[Visual Basic (classic)|the classic Visual Basic]] version 6.0, the first version of Visual Basic .NET debuted in 2002. {{as of|2020|3 = }}, ten versions of Visual Basic .NET are released.

=== 2002 (VB 7.0) ===
The first version, Visual Basic .NET, relies on [[.NET Framework version history#.NET Framework 1.0|.NET Framework 1.0]]. The most important feature is [[managed code]], which contrasts with the classic Visual Basic.

=== 2003 (VB 7.1) ===
Visual Basic .NET 2003 was released with [[.NET Framework 1.1]]. New features included support for the [[.NET Compact Framework]] and a better VB upgrade [[wizard (software)|wizard]]. Improvements were also made to the performance and reliability of .NET IDE (particularly the [http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/06/AdvancedBasics/default.aspx background compiler]) and runtime. In addition, Visual Basic .NET 2003 was available in the Visual Studio.NET Academic Edition, distributed to a certain number of scholars{{weasel inline|date=February 2014}} from each country without cost.

=== 2005 (VB 8.0) ===
After Visual Basic .NET 2003, Microsoft dropped ".NET" from the name of the product, calling the next version Visual Basic 2005.

For this release, Microsoft added many features intended to reinforce Visual Basic .NET's focus as a [[rapid application development]] platform and further differentiate it from [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]., including:
* ''Edit and Continue'' feature{{explain|date=February 2014}}
* Design-time expression evaluation{{Explain|date=February 2014}}
* A pseudo-[[namespace]] called "My", which provides:<ref>{{cite web|url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163680.aspx|title = Navigate The .NET Framework And Your Projects With The My Namespace|website = MSDN Magazine Visual Studio 2005 Guided Tour 2006|publisher = [[Microsoft]]|first = Duncan|last = Mackenzie|year = 2006|access-date = February 6, 2014|archive-date = February 15, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140215053141/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163680.aspx|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379610.aspx|title = My.Internals: Examining the Visual Basic My Feature|first = Tyler|last = Whitney|date = November 2005|website = [[MSDN]]|publisher = [[Microsoft]]|access-date = February 6, 2014|archive-date = June 14, 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120614025325/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379610.aspx|url-status = live}}</ref>
** Easy access to certain areas of the .NET Framework that otherwise require significant code to access like using <syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet" inline>My.Form2.Text = " MainForm "</syntaxhighlight> rather than <syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet" inline>System.WindowsApplication1.Forms.Form2.text = " MainForm "</syntaxhighlight>
** Dynamically generated classes (e.g. ''My.Forms'')
* Improved VB-to-VB.NET converter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379614.aspx|title=What's New with the Visual Basic Upgrade Wizard in Visual Basic 2005|website=msdn2.microsoft.com|access-date=January 29, 2008|archive-date=April 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406035326/http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379614.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A "using" keyword, simplifying the use of objects that require the Dispose [[Design pattern (computer science)|pattern]] to free resources
* ''Just My Code'' feature, which hides (steps over) [[boilerplate code]] written by the Visual Studio .NET IDE and system library code during debugging
* Data Source binding, easing [[database]] client/server development

To bridge the gaps between itself and other .NET languages, this version added:
* [[Generic programming|Generics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379608.aspx|title=Defining and Using Generics in Visual Basic 2005|website=msdn2.microsoft.com|access-date=January 29, 2008|archive-date=April 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423004351/http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379608.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Partial classes]], a method of defining some parts of a class in one file and then adding more definitions later; particularly useful for integrating user code with auto-generated code
* [[Operator overloading]] and [[nullable type]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379613.aspx|title=Operator Overloading in Visual Basic 2005|website=msdn2.microsoft.com|access-date=January 29, 2008|archive-date=April 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423001343/http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379613.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Support for [[integer (computer science)|unsigned integer]] data types commonly used in other languages

Visual Basic 2005 introduced the <code>IsNot</code> operator that makes <code>'If X IsNot Y'</code> equivalent to <code>'If Not X Is Y'</code>. It gained notoriety<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/22/real_slams_ms_patent/ |title=Real Software slams MS IsNot patent application |last=Sherriff |first=Lucy |publisher=The Register |date=February 22, 2005 |access-date=April 6, 2009 |archive-date=August 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803204929/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/22/real_slams_ms_patent/ |url-status=live }}</ref> when it was found to be the subject of a Microsoft patent application.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1766949,00.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731141459/http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1766949,00.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |title=Real Software Slams Microsofts Patent Effort |last=Taft |first=Darryl K. |publisher=eWeek |date=February 21, 2005 |access-date=April 6, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220040230959%22.PGNR.&OS=DN%2F20040230959&RS=DN%2F20040230959 |title=United States Patent Application: 20040230959 |work=Patent Application Full Text and Image Database |last1=Vick |first1=Paul A. Jr. |last2=Barsan |first2=Costica Corneliu |last3=Silver |first3=Amanda K. |date=May 14, 2003 |publisher=US Patent & Trademark Office |access-date=April 6, 2009 |archive-date=February 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211172531/http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220040230959%22.PGNR.&OS=DN%2F20040230959&RS=DN%2F20040230959 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2008 (VB 9.0) ===
Visual Basic 9.0 was released along with [[.NET Framework 3.5]] on November 19, 2007.

For this release, Microsoft added many features, including:
* A true [[conditional operator]], "If(condition as Boolean, truepart, falsepart)", to replace the "IIf" function.
* [[Anonymous type]]s
* Support for [[Language Integrated Query|LINQ]]
* [[Anonymous function|Lambda expressions]]
* [[XML Literals]]
* [[Type inference|Type Inference]]
* [[Extension method]]s

=== 2010 (VB 10.0) ===
In April 2010, Microsoft released Visual Basic 2010. Microsoft had planned to use [[Dynamic Language Runtime]] (DLR) for that release<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.panopticoncentral.net/archive/2007/05/01/20383.aspx
| title = What the heck is "VBx"?
| date = May 1, 2007
| quote = ''With the new DLR, we have support for IronPython, IronRuby, Javascript, and the new dynamic VBx compile''
| access-date = August 12, 2009
| archive-date = May 25, 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090525130300/http://panopticoncentral.net/archive/2007/05/01/20383.aspx
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> but shifted to a co-evolution strategy between Visual Basic and sister language C# to bring both languages into closer parity with one another. Visual Basic's innate ability to interact dynamically with CLR and COM objects has been enhanced to work with dynamic languages built on the DLR such as [[IronPython]] and [[IronRuby]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/we86c8x2%28VS.100%29.aspx
| title=What is New in Visual Basic 2010
| year=2009
| publisher=[[Microsoft]]
| quote=''Visual Basic binds to objects from dynamic languages such as IronPython and IronRuby''
| access-date=August 12, 2009
| archive-date=August 4, 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804043607/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/we86c8x2(VS.100).aspx
| url-status=live
}}</ref> The Visual Basic compiler was improved to infer line continuation in a set of common contexts, in many cases removing the need for the " _" line continuation characters. Also, existing support of inline Functions was complemented with support for inline Subs as well as multi-line versions of both Sub and Function lambdas.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ee336123.aspx | title=What's New in Visual Basic 2010 | year=2010 | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=August 1, 2010 | archive-date=July 26, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726161130/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ee336123.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2012 (VB 11.0) ===
Visual Basic 2012 was released alongside [[.NET Framework 4.5]]. Major features introduced in this version include:{{Explain|date=February 2014}}
* [[Asynchronous programming]] with "async" and "await" statements
* Iterators
* Call hierarchy
* Caller information
* "Global" keyword in "namespace" statements

=== 2013 (VB 12.0) ===
Visual Basic 2013 was released alongside .NET Framework 4.5.1 with Visual Studio 2013. Can also build .NET Framework 4.5.2 applications by installing Developer Pack.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42637 |title=Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2 Developer Pack for Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 from Official Microsoft Download Center |website=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109181051/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42637 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2015 (VB 14.0) ===
Visual Basic 2015 (code named VB "14.0") was released with Visual Studio 2015. Language features include a new "?." operator to perform inline null checks, and a new string interpolation feature is included to format strings inline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vbteam/archive/2014/12/09/new-language-features-in-visual-basic-14.aspx|title=New Language Features in Visual Basic 14|website=msdn.com|access-date=February 5, 2015|archive-date=December 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225220053/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vbteam/archive/2014/12/09/new-language-features-in-visual-basic-14.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2017 (VB 15.x) ===
Visual Basic 2017 (code named VB "15.0") was released with Visual Studio 2017.
Extends support for new Visual Basic 15 language features with revision 2017, 15.3, 15.5, 15.8. Introduces new refactorings that allow organizing source code with one action.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/news/releasenotes/vs2017-relnotes|title=Visual Studio 2017 Release Notes|last=reshmim|website=www.visualstudio.com|access-date=April 5, 2017|archive-date=January 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122175218/https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/news/releasenotes/vs2017-relnotes|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/whats-new#visual-basic-158|title=What's new for Visual Basic 2017,15.3,15.5,15.8|last=reshmim|website=www.visualstudio.com|access-date=January 11, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901152416/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/whats-new#visual-basic-158|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2019 (VB 16.0) ===
Visual Basic 2019 (code named VB "16.0") was released with Visual Studio 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/releases/2019/release-notes|title=Visual Studio 2019 Release Notes|last=Reshmim|website=www.visualstudio.com|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129155944/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/releases/2019/release-notes|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the first version of Visual Basic focused on .NET Core.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/whats-new#visual-basic-160|title=What's new for Visual Basic 16.0|last=Reshmim|website=www.visualstudio.com|access-date=January 11, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901152416/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/whats-new#visual-basic-160|url-status=live}}</ref>

A minor update was later released as Visual Basic 16.9 which only added the ability to consume init-only properties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/whats-new/#visual-basic-169|title=What's new for Visual Basic|website=learn.microsoft.com|date=February 21, 2023 |access-date=February 18, 2025}}</ref> This was done to maintain compatibility with C# 9.0<ref>{{cite web|url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/c-9-0-on-the-record/?source=post_page-----1a66d7f94a54---------------------------------------&hide_banner=true#init-accessors-and-readonly-fields|title=C# 9.0 on the record|first=Mads|last=Torgersen|website=devblogs.microsoft.com|date=November 10, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2025}}</ref> per the current development strategy of the language.<ref name="vbstrategy">{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/getting-started/strategy|title=Annotated Visual Basic Language Strategy|website=learn.microsoft.com|date=May 29, 2024 |access-date=February 18, 2025}}</ref>

=== 2022 ===
Visual Basic received no updates with the release of Visual Studio 2022.<ref name="vbstrategy"/>

== Cross-platform and open-source development ==
The official Visual Basic compiler is written in Visual Basic and is available on GitHub as a part of the [[.NET Compiler Platform]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Roslyn|date=2019-04-13|url=https://github.com/dotnet/roslyn|publisher=.NET Foundation|access-date=2019-04-14|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222190922/https://github.com/dotnet/roslyn|url-status=live}}</ref> The creation of open-source tools for Visual Basic development has been slow compared to [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], although the [[Mono (software)|Mono]] development platform provides an implementation of Visual Basic-specific libraries and a Visual Basic 2005 compatible [[compiler]] written in Visual Basic,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mono-project.com/VisualBasic.NET_support|title=Redirecting…|website=www.mono-project.com|access-date=June 30, 2008|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130181059/https://www.mono-project.com/VisualBasic.NET_support/|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as standard framework libraries such as [[Windows Forms]] GUI library.

[[MonoDevelop]] was an [[open-source software|open-source]] alternative [[Integrated development environment|IDE]]. The [[Gambas]] environment is also similar but distinct from Visual Basic, as is the Visual FB Editor for [[FreeBasic]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Computer programming}}
* [[Microsoft Visual Studio Express]]
* [[List of .NET libraries and frameworks]]
* [[Comparison of C Sharp and Visual Basic .NET|Comparison of C# and Visual Basic .NET]]
* [[Visual Basic for Applications]]
* [[Microsoft Small Basic]]
* [[Comparison of programming languages]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="option strict explicit">{{cite web|title=Option Explicit and Option Strict in Visual Basic .NET and in Visual Basic|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/311329|work=Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=August 22, 2013|date=March 19, 2008|archive-date=April 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404001840/http://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/311329|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
* {{Cite web |title=License.txt in the Roslyn repo at 0d04884 |url=https://github.com/dotnet/roslyn/blob/0d04884c243978cdd609e219fdb63cb58ebec69d/License.txt |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=GitHub |language=en}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
# {{cite web |url = http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=6D50D709-EAA4-44D7-8AF3-E14280403E6E&displaylang=en |title = Visual Basic Language Specification 8.0 |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = November 15, 2005 |access-date = December 10, 2010 |archive-date = January 21, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110121020153/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=6d50d709-eaa4-44d7-8af3-e14280403e6e&displaylang=en |url-status = live }}
# {{cite web |url = http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=995 |title = Visual Basic Language Specification 9.0 |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = December 19, 2007 |access-date = September 28, 2011 }}
# {{cite web |url = http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=15039 |title = Visual Basic Language Specification 11.0 |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = June 7, 2013 |access-date = September 22, 2013 |archive-date = March 5, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120305010924/http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=15039 |url-status = live }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
<!-- Please do not add spam here. See [[Wikipedia:External]] links for what is appropriate and what not (for example, forums). -->
{{Wikibooks|Visual Basic .NET}}
{{wikiversity|VB.NET}}
* {{Official website|https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/}}
* [https://devblogs.microsoft.com/vbteam/ The Visual Basic Team Blog]

{{BASIC}}
{{.NET Framework}}
{{Common Language Infrastructure}}
{{MS DevTools|state=collapsed}}
{{Microsoft FOSS}}
{{Programming languages}}

[[Category:.NET programming languages]]
[[Category:2001 software]]
[[Category:Articles with example BASIC code]]
[[Category:BASIC programming language family]]
[[Category:Microsoft BASIC]]
[[Category:Microsoft programming languages]]
[[Category:Microsoft Visual Studio|Basic .NET]]
[[Category:Object-oriented programming languages]]