This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.

NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Comments
VB.NET C#

'Single line only // Single line

Rem Single line only /* Multiple
line */
/// XML comments on single line
/** XML comments on multiple lines */

Program Structure
VB.NET C#

Imports System using System

Namespace MyNameSpace Namespace MyNameSpace
Class HelloWorld {
'Entry point which delegates to C-style main class HelloWorld
Private Function {
Public Overloads Shared Sub Main() static void Main(string[] args)
Main(System.Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()) {
End Sub System.Console.WriteLine("Hello
World")
Overloads Shared Sub Main(args() As String) }
System.Console.WriteLine("Hello World") }
End Sub 'Main }
End Class 'HelloWorld End Namespace 'MyNameSpace
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Data Types
VB.NET C#

'Value Types //Value Types

Boolean bool
Byte byte, sbyte
Char (example: "A") char (example: 'A')
Short, Integer, Long short, ushort, int, uint, long, ulong
Single, Double float, double
Decimal decimal
Date DateTime

'Reference Types //Reference Types

Object object
String string

Dim x As Integer int x;

System.Console.WriteLine(x.GetType()) Console.WriteLine(x.GetType())
System.Console.WriteLine(TypeName(x)) Console.WriteLine(typeof(int))

'Type conversion //Type conversion

Dim d As Single = 3.5 float d = 3.5;
Dim i As Integer = CType (d, Integer) int i = (int) d
i = CInt (d)
i = Int(d)

Constants
VB.NET C#

Const MAX_AUTHORS As Integer = 25 const int MAX_AUTHORS = 25;

ReadOnly MIN_RANK As Single = 5.00 readonly float MIN_RANKING = 5.00;
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Enumerations
VB.NET C#

Enum Action enum Action {Start, Stop, Rewind, Forward};

Start enum Status {Flunk = 50, Pass = 70, Excel =
'Stop is a reserved word 90};
[Stop]
Rewind
Forward
End Enum

Enum Status
Flunk = 50
Pass = 70
Excel = 90
End Enum

Dim a As Action = Action.Stop Action a = Action.Stop;

If a <> Action.Start Then _ if (a != Action.Start)
'Prints "Stop is 1" //Prints "Stop is 1"
System.Console.WriteLine(a.ToString & " is " & System.Console.WriteLine(a + " is " +
a) (int) a);

'Prints 70 // Prints 70
System.Console.WriteLine(Status.Pass) System.Console.WriteLine((int)
'Prints Pass Status.Pass);
System.Console.WriteLine(Status.Pass.ToString()) // Prints Pass
System.Console.WriteLine(Status.Pass);

Enum Weekdays
Saturday
Sunday enum Weekdays
Monday {
Tuesday Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Thursday }
Friday
End Enum 'Weekdays
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Operators
VB.NET C#

'Comparison //Comparison
= < > <= >= <> == < > <= >= !=

'Arithmetic //Arithmetic
+ - * / + - * /
Mod % (mod)
\ (integer division) / (integer division if both operands are
^ (raise to a power) ints)
Math.Pow(x, y)

'Assignment
= += -= *= /= \= ^= <<= >>= &= //Assignment
= += -= *= /= %= &= |= ^= <<=
>>= ++ --
'Bitwise
And AndAlso Or OrElse Not << >>
//Bitwise
& | ^ ~ << >>
'Logical
And AndAlso Or OrElse Not
//Logical
&& || !
'String Concatenation
&
//String Concatenation
+
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Choices
VB.NET C#

greeting = IIf(age < 20, "What's up?", "Hello") greeting = 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 line

If x <> 100 And y < 5 Then x *= 5 : y *= 2

'Preferred
If x <> 100 And y < 5 Then
x *= 5 if (x != 100 && y < 5)
y *= 2 {
End If // Multiple statements must be enclosed
in {}
x *= 5;
y *= 2;
}
'or to break up any long single command use _
If henYouHaveAReally < longLine And _
itNeedsToBeBrokenInto2 > Lines Then _
UseTheUnderscore(charToBreakItUp)

If x > 5 Then
x *= y
ElseIf x = 5 Then if (x > 5)
x += y x *= y;
ElseIf x < 10 Then else if (x == 5)
x -= y x += y;
Else else if (x < 10)
x /= y x -= y;
End If else
x /= y;

'Must be a primitive data type

Select Case color
Case "black", "red" //Must be integer or string
r += 1 switch (color)
Case "blue" {
b += 1 case "black":
Case "green" case "red": r++;
g += 1 break;
Case Else case "blue"
other += 1 break;
End Select case "green": g++;
break;
default: other++;
break;
}
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Loops
VB.NET C#

'Pre-test Loops: //Pre-test Loops: while (i < 10)

While c < 10 i++;
c += 1 for (i = 2; i < = 10; i += 2)
End While Do Until c = 10 System.Console.WriteLine(i);
c += 1
Loop

'Post-test Loop:
Do While c < 10
c += 1 //Post-test Loop:
Loop do
i++;
while (i < 10);
For c = 2 To 10 Step 2
System.Console.WriteLine(c)
Next

'Array or collection looping

Dim names As String() = {"Steven", "SuOk", "Sarah"}
For Each s As String In names // Array or collection looping
System.Console.WriteLine(s) string[] names = {"Steven", "SuOk",
Next "Sarah"};
foreach (string s in names)
System.Console.WriteLine(s);
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Arrays
VB.NET C#

Dim nums() As Integer = {1, 2, 3} int[] nums = {1, 2, 3};

For i As Integer = 0 To nums.Length - 1 for (int i = 0; i < nums.Length; i++)
Console.WriteLine(nums(i)) Console.WriteLine(nums[i]);
Next

'4 is the index of the last element, so it holds 5 // 5 is the size of the array
elements string[] names = new string[5];
Dim names(4) As String names[0] = "Steven";
names(0) = "Steven" // Throws System.IndexOutOfRangeException
'Throws System.IndexOutOfRangeException names[5] = "Sarah"
names(5) = "Sarah"

// C# can't dynamically resize an array.

'Resize the array, keeping the existing //Just copy into new array.
'values (Preserve is optional) string[] names2 = new string[7];
ReDim Preserve names(6) // or names.CopyTo(names2, 0);
Array.Copy(names, names2, names.Length);

float[,] twoD = new float[rows, cols];

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

int[][] jagged = new int[3][] {

Dim jagged()() As Integer = { _ new int[5], new int[2], new int[3] };
New Integer(4) {}, New Integer(1) {}, New jagged[0][4] = 5;
Integer(2) {} }
jagged(0)(4) = 5
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Functions
VB.NET C#

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

'c set to zero by default

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

'Accept variable number of arguments // Accept variable number of arguments

Function Sum(ByVal ParamArray nums As Integer()) As int Sum(params int[] nums) {
Integer int sum = 0;
Sum = 0 foreach (int i in nums)
For Each i As Integer In nums sum += i;
Sum += i return sum;
Next }
End Function 'Or use a Return statement like C#

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

'Optional parameters must be listed last /* C# doesn't support optional

'and must have a default value arguments/parameters.
Sub SayHello(ByVal name As String, Just create two different versions of the
Optional ByVal prefix As String = "") same function. */
System.Console.WriteLine("Greetings, " & prefix void SayHello(string name, string prefix) {
& " " & name) System.Console.WriteLine("Greetings, " +
End Sub prefix + " " + name);
}

SayHello("Steven", "Dr.") void SayHello(string name) {

SayHello("SuOk") SayHello(name, "");
}
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Exception Handling
VB.NET C#

Class Withfinally class Withfinally

Public Shared Sub Main() {
Try public static void Main()
Dim x As Integer = 5 {
Dim y As Integer = 0 try
Dim z As Integer = x / y {
Console.WriteLine(z) int x = 5;
Catch e As DivideByZeroException int y = 0;
System.Console.WriteLine("Error occurred") int z = x/y;
Finally Console.WriteLine(z);
System.Console.WriteLine("Thank you") }
End Try catch(DivideByZeroException e)
End Sub 'Main {
End Class 'Withfinally System.Console.WriteLine("Error
occurred");
}
finally
{
System.Console.WriteLine("Thank
you");
}
}
}

Namespaces
VB.NET C#

Namespace ASPAlliance.DotNet.Community namespace ASPAlliance.DotNet.Community {

... ...
End Namespace }

'or // or

Namespace ASPAlliance namespace ASPAlliance {

Namespace DotNet namespace DotNet {
Namespace Community namespace Community {
... ...
End Namespace }
End Namespace }
End Namespace }

Imports ASPAlliance.DotNet.Community using ASPAlliance.DotNet.Community;

This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Classes / Interfaces
VB.NET C#

'Accessibility keywords //Accessibility keywords

Public public
Private private
Friend internal
Protected protected
Protected Friend protected internal
Shared static

'Inheritance //Inheritance
Class Articles class Articles: Authors {
Inherits Authors ...
... }
End Class

using System;
Imports System

interface IArticle
Interface IArticle {
Sub Show() void Show();
End Interface 'IArticle }
_

class IAuthor:IArticle
Class IAuthor {
Implements IArticle public void Show()
{
Public Sub Show() System.Console.WriteLine("Show() method
System.Console.WriteLine("Show() method Implemented");
Implemented") }
End Sub 'Show

'Entry point which delegates to C-style main public static void Main(string[] args)
Private Function {
Public Overloads Shared Sub Main() IAuthor author = new IAuthor();
Main(System.Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()) author.Show();
End Sub }
}

Overloads Public Shared Sub Main(args() As

String)
Dim author As New IAuthor()
author.Show()
End Sub 'Main
End Class 'IAuthor
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Constructors / Destructors
VB.NET C#

Class TopAuthor class TopAuthor {

Private _topAuthor As Integer private int _topAuthor;

Public Sub New() public TopAuthor() {

_topAuthor = 0 _topAuthor = 0;
End Sub }

Public Sub New(ByVal topAuthor As Integer) public TopAuthor(int topAuthor) {

Me._topAuthor = topAuthor this._topAuthor= topAuthor
End Sub }

Protected Overrides Sub Finalize() ~TopAuthor() {

'Desctructor code to free unmanaged resources // Destructor code to free unmanaged
MyBase.Finalize() resources.
End Sub // Implicitly creates a Finalize method
End Class }
}

Objects
VB.NET C#

Dim author As TopAuthor = New TopAuthor TopAuthor author = new TopAuthor();

With author
.Name = "Steven" //No "With" construct
.AuthorRanking = 3 author.Name = "Steven";
End With author.AuthorRanking = 3;

author.Rank("Scott")
author.Demote() 'Calling Shared method author.Rank("Scott");
'or TopAuthor.Demote() //Calling static method
TopAuthor.Rank()

Dim author2 As TopAuthor = author 'Both refer to

same object TopAuthor author2 = author //Both refer to
author2.Name = "Joe" same object
System.Console.WriteLine(author2.Name) 'Prints Joe author2.Name = "Joe";
System.Console.WriteLine(author2.Name)
//Prints Joe
author = Nothing 'Free the object

author = null //Free the object

If author Is Nothing Then _
author = New TopAuthor
if (author == null)
author = new TopAuthor();
Dim obj As Object = New TopAuthor
If TypeOf obj Is TopAuthor Then _
System.Console.WriteLine("Is a TopAuthor Object obj = new TopAuthor();
object.") if (obj is TopAuthor)
SystConsole.WriteLine("Is a TopAuthor
object.");
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Structs
VB.NET C#

Structure AuthorRecord struct AuthorRecord {

Public name As String public string name;
Public rank As Single public float rank;

Public Sub New(ByVal name As String, ByVal rank public AuthorRecord(string name, float
As Single) rank) {
Me.name = name this.name = name;
Me.rank = rank this.rank = rank;
End Sub }
End Structure }

Dim author As AuthorRecord = New

AuthorRecord("Steven", 8.8) AuthorRecord author = new
Dim author2 As AuthorRecord = author AuthorRecord("Steven", 8.8);
AuthorRecord author2 = author
author2.name = "Scott"
System.Console.WriteLine(author.name) 'Prints author.name = "Scott";
Steven SystemConsole.WriteLine(author.name);
System.Console.WriteLine(author2.name) 'Prints //Prints Steven
Scott System.Console.WriteLine(author2.name);
//Prints Scott
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Properties
VB.NET C#

Private _size As Integer private int _size;

Public Property Size() As Integer public int Size {

Get get {
Return _size return _size;
End Get }
Set (ByVal Value As Integer) set {
If Value < 0 Then if (value < 0)
_size = 0 _size = 0;
Else else
_size = Value _size = value;
End If }
End Set }
End Property

foo.Size += 1 foo.Size++;

Imports System using System;

class Date
{
Class [Date] public int Day{
get {
Public Property Day() As Integer return day;
Get }
Return day set {
End Get day = value;
Set }
day = value }
End Set int day;
End Property
Private day As Integer
public int Month{
get {
Public Property Month() As Integer return month;
Get }
Return month set {
End Get month = value;
Set }
month = value }
End Set int month;
End Property
Private month As Integer
public int Year{
get {
Public Property Year() As Integer return year;
Get }
Return year set {
End Get year = value;
Set }
year = value }
End Set int year;
End Property
Private year As Integer
public bool IsLeapYear(int year)
{
Public Function IsLeapYear(year As Integer) As return year%4== 0 ? true: false;
Boolean }
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License
Return(If year Mod 4 = 0 Then True Else public void SetDate (int day, int
False) month, int year)
End Function 'IsLeapYear {
this.day = day;
Public Sub SetDate(day As Integer, month As this.month = month;
Integer, this.year = year;
year As Integer) }
Me.day = day }
Me.month = month
Me.year = year
End Sub 'SetDate
End Class '[Date]

Delegates / Events
VB.NET C#

Delegate Sub MsgArrivedEventHandler(ByVal message delegate void MsgArrivedEventHandler(string

As String) message);

Event MsgArrivedEvent As MsgArrivedEventHandler event MsgArrivedEventHandler

MsgArrivedEvent;

'or to define an event which declares a

'delegate implicitly //Delegates must be used with events in C#
Event MsgArrivedEvent(ByVal message As String)

MsgArrivedEvent += new
AddHandler MsgArrivedEvent, AddressOf MsgArrivedEventHandler
My_MsgArrivedCallback (My_MsgArrivedEventCallback);
'Won't throw an exception if obj is Nothing //Throws exception if obj is null
RaiseEvent MsgArrivedEvent("Test message") MsgArrivedEvent("Test message");
RemoveHandler MsgArrivedEvent, AddressOf MsgArrivedEvent -= new
My_MsgArrivedCallback MsgArrivedEventHandler
(My_MsgArrivedEventCallback);

Imports System.Windows.Forms
using System.Windows.Forms;

'WithEvents can't be used on local variable

Dim WithEvents MyButton As Button Button MyButton = new Button();
MyButton = New Button MyButton.Click += new
System.EventHandler(MyButton_Click);

Private Sub MyButton_Click(ByVal sender As

System.Object, _ private void MyButton_Click(object sender,
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles System.EventArgs e) {
MyButton.Click MessageBox.Show(this, "Button was
MessageBox.Show(Me, "Button was clicked", "Info", clicked", "Info",
_ MessageBoxButtons.OK,
MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
MessageBoxIcon.Information) }
End Sub
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

Console I/O
VB.NET C#

'Special character constants //Escape sequences

vbCrLf, vbCr, vbLf, vbNewLine \n, \r
vbNullString \t
vbTab \\
vbBack \
vbFormFeed
vbVerticalTab
"" Convert.ToChar(65) //Returns 'A' -
Chr(65) 'Returns 'A' equivalent to Chr(num) in VB
// or
(char) 65
System.Console.Write("What's your name? ")
Dim name As String = System.Console.ReadLine()
System.Console.Write("How old are you? ") System.Console.Write("What's your name? ");
Dim age As Integer = Val(System.Console.ReadLine()) string name = SYstem.Console.ReadLine();
System.Console.WriteLine("{0} is {1} years old.", System.Console.Write("How old are you? ");
name, age) int age =
'or Convert.ToInt32(System.Console.ReadLine());
System.Console.WriteLine(name & " is " & age & " System.Console.WriteLine("{0} is {1} years
years old.") old.", name, age);
//or
Dim c As Integer System.Console.WriteLine(name + " is " +
c = System.Console.Read() 'Read single char age + " years old.");
System.Console.WriteLine(c) 'Prints 65 if user
enters "A"
int c = System.Console.Read(); //Read
single char
System.Console.WriteLine(c); //Prints 65 if
user enters "A"
This document is an authorized derivative of Frank McCown's "VB.NET and
C# Comparison" (C) 2005 at
http://www.harding.edu/USER/fmccown/WWW/vbnet_csharp_comparison.html
This work is licensed under a Create Common License

File I/O
VB.NET C#

Imports System.IO using System.IO;

'Write out to text file //Write out to text file

Dim writer As StreamWriter = File.CreateText StreamWriter writer = File.CreateText
("c:\myfile.txt") ("c:\\myfile.txt");
writer.WriteLine("Out to file.") writer.WriteLine("Out to file.");
writer.Close() writer.Close();

'Read all lines from text file //Read all lines from text file
Dim reader As StreamReader = File.OpenText StreamReader reader = File.OpenText
("c:\myfile.txt") ("c:\\myfile.txt");
Dim line As String = reader.ReadLine() string line = reader.ReadLine();
While Not line Is Nothing while (line != null) {
Console.WriteLine(line) Console.WriteLine(line);
line = reader.ReadLine() line = reader.ReadLine();
End While }
reader.Close() reader.Close();

'Write out to binary file //Write out to binary file

Dim str As String = "Text data" string str = "Text data";
Dim num As Integer = 123 int num = 123;
Dim binWriter As New BinaryWriter(File.OpenWrite BinaryWriter binWriter = new
("c:\myfile.dat")) BinaryWriter(File.OpenWrite
binWriter.Write(str) ("c:\\myfile.dat"));
binWriter.Write(num) binWriter.Write(str);
binWriter.Close() binWriter.Write(num);
binWriter.Close();

'Read from binary file

Dim binReader As New BinaryReader(File.OpenRead //Read from binary file
("c:\myfile.dat")) BinaryReader binReader = new
str = binReader.ReadString() BinaryReader(File.OpenRead
num = binReader.ReadInt32() ("c:\\myfile.dat"));
binReader.Close() str = binReader.ReadString();
num = binReader.ReadInt32();
binReader.Close();