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Object Oriented Programming In VB.NET

Anoop Madhusudanan, 19 Nov 2004
4.15 138 votes
A must read for anyone who is interested in VB.NET. This article uncovers some basic Object Oriented Programming
features of Visual Basic .NET. The whole article is divided into 10 lessons. The source code for these lessons is provided with
the article.

Download source files 10.7 Kb

Contents
Introduction
Using the code
Lesson 1: Namespaces, Classes & Modules
Lesson 2: Access Types
Lesson 3: Shared Functions
Lesson 4: Overloading
Lesson 5: Inheritance
Lesson 6: Overriding
Lesson 7: Polymorphism
Lesson 8: Constructors & Destructors
Lesson 9: Property Routines
Lesson 10: A Simple Application

Introduction
VB.NET is completely object oriented. This article uncovers some basic Object Oriented Programming features of Visual
Basic. NET. The whole article is divided into ten lessons. The source code for these lessons is provided with the article.
This tutorial is designed with the following objectives:
1. To provide a sound knowledge about Object Oriented Programming in VB.NET.
2. To educate how Object Oriented techniques are used in VB.NET.
3. To explain the following concepts in an easy and simple way:
Creating and using classes and objects in VB.NET.
Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance and Polymorphism.
Overloading and Overriding.
Constructors and Destructors.
Static functions.
Go through this tutorial and you will start making sense of almost any .NET code. Also, Java/CPP programmers can use this
to understand OOPs in VB.NET.

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Using the code

The source code for each lesson is available as a .vb source code file. You need Microsoft .NET framework SDK installed in
your system to compile and execute the exercises in this article. You can download it from the Microsoft website. The
VB.NET compiler vbc.exe normally resides in your FrameworkSDK\bin folder.
To manually compile a source code file, you may use the command prompt to type: vbc filename.vb /out:"filename.exe"
/r:"System.Windows.Forms.dll","System.dll"

Lesson 1: Namespaces, Classes & Objects, Modules

A Namespace
In VB.NET, classes and other data structures for a specific purpose are grouped together to form a namespace. You
can use the classes in a namespace, by simply importing the namespace. The Imports keyword is used to import
a namespace to your project. .NET framework provides a rich set of built in classes, grouped together to various
namespaces. In this lesson, we are using the System namespace. Import the System namespace already
available in .NET.
ImportsSystem

A Class
Probably, you are already familiar with classes and objects. Simply speaking, a Class is a definition of a real life
object. For example, Human is a class for representing all human beings. Dog is a class to represent all Dogs.
Classes can contain functions too. Animals is a namespace.
NamespaceAnimals

Dog is a class in the namespace Animals:

ClassDog

Bark is a function in this Class:

FunctionBark()
Console.Writeline("Dogisbarking")
EndFunction
EndClass
EndNamespace

An Object
An object is an instance of a Class. For example, Jimmy is an object of type Dog. We will create an object in the
next section. Read on.

Modules
You can use modules to write common functions. A Module is a group of functions. Unlike functions in classes,
Public functions in modules can be called directly from anywhere else. VB provides Functions and
Subroutines. Functions and Subroutines are almost the same, but the difference is that a subroutine can't return
a value.
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PublicModulemodMain
Execution will start from the Main() subroutine:
SubMain()
'Callourfunction.Seebelow
OurFunction()
Endsub

OurFunction: Our own little function to use the class Dog:

FunctionOurFunction()
'HereishowwedeclareavariableJimmyoftypeDog.
'WeuseAnimals.Dogbecause,theclassDogisinthe
'namespaceAnimals(seeabove).

DimJimmyasAnimals.Dog

'Createanobject.UnlikeinVB6,itisnotrequiredtouse
'the'set'keyword.

Jimmy=newAnimals.Dog()

'Anotherwaytocreateanobjectis
'DimJimmyasnewDog

'CallJimmy'sMainFunction
Jimmy.Bark()
EndFunction
Endmodule

Lesson 2: Access Types

The major access types are Public, Private, Friend and Protected. A Class may contain functions, variables
etc., which can be either Public or Private or Protected or Friend. If they are Public, they can be accessed by
creating objects of the Class. Private and Protected members can be accessed only by the functions inside the
Class. Protected members are much like Private members, but they have some special use while inheriting a
Class. We will see this later, in Inheritance Lesson 5. Friend members can be accessed only by elements of the same
project, and not by the ones outside the current project. Let us expand our dog class.
Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem

Animals is a namespace.
NamespaceAnimals

Dog is a class in the namespace Animals.

PublicClassDog
'Apublicvariable
PublicAgeOfDogasInteger

Bark is a function in this class. It is Public:

PublicFunctionBark()
Console.Writeline("Dogisbarking")
EndFunction
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Walk is a function in this class. It is Private.

PrivateFunctionWalk()
Console.Writeline("Dogiswalking")
EndFunction
EndClass
EndNamespace
Our Module:
PublicModulemodMain
Execution will start from the Main() subroutine:
SubMain()
'Callourfunction.Seebelow
OurFunction()
Endsub
'OurFunction:CalledfromMain()
FunctionOurFunction()
DimJimmyasAnimals.Dog
Jimmy=newAnimals.Dog()
'Thiswillwork,becauseBark&Ageofdogarepublic
Jimmy.Bark
Jimmy.AgeOfDog=10
'CallingtheWalkfunctionwillnotworkhere,because
'Walk()isoutsidetheclassDog
'Sothisiswrong.Uncommentthisandtrytocompile,itwill
'causeanerror.
'Jimmy.Walk
EndFunction
EndModule

Additional Notes:
Encapsulation
Putting all the data and related functions in a Class is called Encapsulation.

Data Hiding or Abstraction:

Normally, in a Class, variables used to hold data like the age of a dog is declared as Private. Functions or
property routines are used to access these variables. Protecting the data of an object from outside functions is
called Abstraction or Data Hiding. This prevents accidental modification of data by functions outside the class.

Lesson 3: Shared Functions

The shared members in a class both functions and variables can be used without creating objects of a class as shown. The
Shared modifier indicates that the method does not operate on a specific instance of a type and may be invoked directly
from a type rather than through a particular instance of a type.
Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem

Animals is a namespace.
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NamespaceAnimals

Dog is a class in the namespace Animals.

ClassDog

Bark is a now a Public, shared function in this class.

PublicSharedFunctionBark()
Console.Writeline("Dogisbarking")
EndFunction

Walk is a Public function in this class. It is not shared.

PublicFunctionWalk()
Console.Writeline("Dogiswalking")
EndFunction
EndClass
EndNamespace
Our Module:
PublicModulemodMain
Execution will start from the Main() subroutine.
SubMain()
'WecancalltheBark()functiondirectly,
'withoutcreatinganobjectoftypeDog
'becauseitisshared.
Animals.Dog.Bark()
'WecancalltheWalk()functiononly
'aftercreatinganobject,because
'itisnotshared.
DimJimmyasAnimals.Dog
Jimmy=newAnimals.Dog()
Jimmy.Walk()
'NowGuess?TheWriteLine()functionweusedsofar
'isasharedfunctioninclassConsole:)
'Also,wecanwritetheMain()functionitselfasashared
'functioninaclass.i.eSharedSubMain().Try
'movingMain()fromthismoduletotheaboveclass
Endsub
EndModule

Lesson 4: Overloading
Overloading is a simple technique, to enable a single function name to accept parameters of different type. Let us see a
simple Adder class. Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem
ClassAdder
Here, we have two Add() functions. This one adds two integers. Convert.ToString is equivalent to the good old
CStr.
OverloadsPublicSubAdd(AasInteger,BasInteger)
Console.Writeline("AddingIntegers:"+Convert.ToString(a+b))
EndSub
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This one adds two strings.

OverloadsPublicSubAdd(AasString,BasString)
Console.Writeline("AddingStrings:"+a+b)
EndSub
'Andbothhavethesamename.Thisispossiblebecause,weusedthe
'Overloadskeyword,tooverloadthem.
'Here,wehavetheMainFunctionwithinthisclass.Whenyouwrite.
'yourmainfunctioninsidetheclass,itshouldbeasharedfunction.
SharedSubMain()
DimAdderObjasAdder
'Createtheobject
AdderObj=newAdder
'Thiswillinvokefirstfunction
AdderObj.Add(10,20)
'Thiswillinvokesecondfunction
AdderObj.Add("hello","howareyou")
EndSub
EndClass

Lesson 5: Inheritance
Inheritance is the property in which, a derived class acquires the attributes of its base class. In simple terms, you can create
or 'inherit' your own class derived class, using an existing class base class. You can use the Inherits keyword for this.
Let us see a simple example. Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem
Our simple base class:
ClassHuman
'Thisissomethingthatallhumansdo
PublicSubWalk()
Console.Writeline("Walking")
EndSub
EndClass
Now, let us derive a class from Human.
A Programmer is a Human.
ClassProgrammer
InheritsHuman
'WealreadyhavetheaboveWalk()function
'Thisissomethingthatallprogrammersdo;)
PublicSubStealCode()
Console.Writeline("Stealingcode")
EndSub
EndClass
Just a MainClass.
ClassMainClass
'Ourmainfunction
SharedSubMain()
DimTomasProgrammer
Tom=newProgrammer

'Thiscallisokiebecauseprogrammergotthisfunction
'fromitsbaseclass
Tom.Walk()
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'ThisisalsocorrectbecauseTomisaprogrammer
Tom.StealCode()
EndSub
EndClass

Additional Notes:
MustInherit
The MustInherit keyword specifies that a class cannot be instantiated and can be used only as a base class. I.e.,
if you declare our Human class as "MustInheritClassHuman", then you can't create objects of type
Human without inheriting it.

NotInheritable
The NotInheritable keyword specifies that a class cannot be inherited. I.e., if you specify
'NotInheritableClassHuman', no derived classes can be made from the Human class.

Lesson 6: Overriding
By default, a derived class Inherits methods from its base class. If an inherited property or method needs to behave
differently in the derived class it can be overridden; that is, you can define a new implementation of the method in the
derived class. The Overridable keyword is used to mark a function as overridable. The keyword Overrides is used to
mark that a function is overriding some base class function. Let us see an example.
Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem
Our simple base class:
ClassHuman
'Speak()isdeclaredOverridable
OverridablePublicSubSpeak()
Console.Writeline("Speaking")
EndSub
EndClass
Now, let us derive a class from Human:
An Indian is a Human:
ClassIndian
InheritsHuman
'LetusmakeIndianspeakHindi,theNationalLanguage
'inIndia
'Speak()isoverridingSpeak()initsbaseclass(Human)
OverridesPublicSubSpeak()
Console.Writeline("SpeakingHindi")
'Important:Asyouexpect,anycalltoSpeak()insidethisclass
'willinvoketheSpeak()inthisclass.Ifyouneedto
'callSpeak()inbaseclass,youcanuseMyBasekeyword.
'Likethis
'Mybase.Speak()
EndSub
EndClass
Just a class to put our Main().

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ClassMainClass
'Ourmainfunction
SharedSubMain()
'TomisagenericHuman
DimTomasHuman
Tom=newHuman
'TonyisahumanandanIndian
DimTonyasIndian
Tony=newIndian
'ThiscallwillinvoketheSpeak()function
'inclassHuman
Tom.Speak()
'ThiscallwillinvoketheSpeak()function
'inclassIndian
Tony.Speak()
EndSub
EndClass

Lesson 7: Polymorphism
Polymorphism is the property in which a single object can take more than one form. For example, if you have a base class
named Human, an object of Human type can be used to hold an object of any of its derived type. When you call a function
in your object, the system will automatically determine the type of the object to call the appropriate function. For example,
let us assume that you have a function named speak() in your base class. You derived a child class from your base class
and overloaded the function speak(). Then, you create a child class object and assign it to a base class variable. Now, if
you call the speak() function using the base class variable, the speak() function defined in your child class will work.
On the contrary, if you are assigning an object of the base class to the base class variable, then the speak() function in
the base class will work. This is achieved through runtime type identification of objects. See the example.
Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem
This example is exactly the same as the one we saw in the previous lesson. The only difference is in the SharedSub
Main() in the class MainClass. So scroll down and see an example:
Our simple base class:
ClassHuman
'Speak()isdeclaredOverridable
OverridablePublicSubSpeak()
Console.Writeline("Speaking")
EndSub
EndClass
Now, let us derive a class from Human.
An Indian is a Human.
ClassIndian
InheritsHuman
'LetusmakeIndianspeakHindi,theNationalLanguage
'inIndia
'Speak()isoverridingSpeak()initsbaseclass(Human)
OverridesPublicSubSpeak()
Console.Writeline("SpeakingHindi")
'Important:Asyouexpect,anycalltoSpeak()insidethisclass
'willinvoketheSpeak()inthisclass.Ifyouneedto
'callSpeak()inbaseclass,youcanuseMyBasekeyword.
'Likethis
'Mybase.Speak()
EndSub
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EndClass
Carefully examine the code in Main():
ClassMainClass
'Ourmainfunction
SharedSubMain()
'LetusdefineTomasahuman(baseclass)
DimTomasHuman
'Now,IamassiginganIndian(derivedclass)
Tom=newIndian
'Theaboveassignmentislegal,because
'IndianIS_Ahuman.
'Now,letmecallSpeakas
Tom.Speak()
'WhichSpeak()willwork?TheSpeak()inIndian,orthe
'Speak()inhuman?
'Thequestionarisesbecause,TomisdeclaredasaHuman,
'butanobjectoftypeIndianisassignedtoTom.
'TheAnsweris,theSpeak()inIndianwillwork.Thisisbecause,
'mostobjectorientedlanguageslikeVb.netcanautomatically
'detectthetypeoftheobjectassignedtoabaseclassvariable.
'ThisiscalledPolymorphism
EndSub
EndClass

Lesson 8: Constructors & Destructors

Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem
A Constructor is a special function which is called automatically when a class is created. In VB.NET, you should use
useNew() to create constructors. Constructors can be overloaded see Lesson 4, but unlike the functions, the
Overloads keyword is not required. A Destructor is a special function which is called automatically when a class is
destroyed. In VB.NET, you should use useFinalize() routine to create Destructors. They are similar to
Class_Initialize and Class_Terminate in VB 6.0.

Dog is a class:
ClassDog
'Theagevariable
PrivateAgeasinteger
The default constructor:
PublicSubNew()
Console.Writeline("DogisCreatedWithAgeZero")
Age=0
EndSub
The parameterized constructor:
PublicSubNew(valasInteger)
Console.Writeline("DogisCreatedWithAge"+Convert.ToString(val))
Age=val
EndSub
This is the destructor:
OverridesProtectedSubFinalize()
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Console.Writeline("DogisDestroyed")
EndSub
'TheMainFunction
SharedSubMain()
DimJimmy,JackyasDog
'Createtheobjects
'Thiswillcallthedefaultconstructor
Jimmy=newDog
'Thiswillcalltheparameterizedconstructor
Jacky=newDog(10)
EndSub
'TheDestructionwillbedoneautomatically,when
'theprogramends.ThisisdonebytheGarbage
'Collector.
EndClass

Lesson 9: Property Routines

You can use both properties and fields to store information in an object. While fields are simply Public variables,
properties use property procedures to control how values are set or returned. You can use the Get/Set keywords for
getting/setting properties. See the following example. Import the System namespace already available in .NET.
ImportsSystem

Dog is a class.
PublicClassDog
'Aprivatevariabletoholdthevalue
PrivatemAgeOfDogasInteger
This is our property routine:
PublicPropertyAge()AsInteger
'Calledwhensomeonetriestoretreivethevalue
Get
Console.Writeline("GettingProperty")
ReturnmAgeOfdog
EndGet
Set(ByValValueAsInteger)
'Calledwhensomeonetriestoassignavalue
Console.Writeline("SettingProperty")
mAgeOfDog=Value
EndSet
EndProperty
EndClass
Another class:
ClassMainClass
'Ourmainfunction.Executionstartshere.
SharedSubMain()
'Letuscreateanobject.
DimJimmyasDog
Jimmy=newDog
'Wecan'taccessmAgeofDogdirectly,soweshould
'useAge()propertyroutine.
'Setit.TheAgeSetroutinewillwork
Jimmy.Age=30
'Getitback.TheAgeGEtroutinewillwork
DimcurAge=Jimmy.Age()
EndSub
EndClass
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Lesson 10: A simple program

Let us analyze a simple program. First, let us import the required namespaces:
ImportsSystem
ImportsSystem.ComponentModel
ImportsSystem.Windows.Forms
ImportsSystem.Drawing
'WeareinheritingaclassnamedSimpleForm,fromthe
'classSystem.Windows.Forms.Form
'
'i.e,Windowsisanamespaceinsystem,Formsisa
'namespaceinWindows,andFormisaclassinForms.
PublicClassSimpleForm
InheritsSystem.Windows.Forms.Form
'Ourconstructor
PublicSubNew()
'Thiswillinvoketheconstructorofthebase
'class
MyBase.New()
Set the text property of this class. We inherited this property from the base class:
Me.Text="Hello,HowAreYou?"
EndSub
EndClass
PublicClassMainClass
SharedSubMain()
'CreateanobjectfromourSimpleFormclass
DimsfasSimpleForm
sf=newSimpleForm

'PassthisobjecttotheRun()functiontostart
System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run(sf)
EndSub
EndClass
That is it. Now you can atleast read and understand most of those VB.NET source code, and probably implement more OOP
features in your VB.NET programs. Now, in my next article, I'll try to cover the patterns and practices in VB.NET.

History
Nov 13th, 2004
Prepared this article for publishing.

License
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About the Author

Anoop Madhusudanan
Architect
India
Architect, Developer, Speaker | Wannabe GUT inventor & Data Scientist | Microsoft MVP in C# | Tweets on JS, Mobile, C#,
.NET, Cloud, Hadoop | Seeker.
Follow: I'm In Twitter @amazedsaint | Blog: http://amazedsaint.com
BigData for .NET Developers Using Azure & Hadoop
Hack Raspberry Pi to Build Apps In C#, Winforms and ASP.NET
Changing Times For Web Developers Responsive Design and 6 Tips You Need To Survive
7 Freely Available Ebooks For .NET developers
5 Back to Basics C# Articles Fluent Interfaces, Expr Trees etc
3 Gems from Mono to spice up your .NET Apps
Top 5 Common Mistakes .NET Developers Must Avoid
6 Cool VS2010 Tips you may find interesting
4 .NET 4.0 Libraries you *should* know about

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