Visual Basic Language Reference

This section provides reference information for various aspects of the Visual Basic language.

In This Section

Typographic and Code Conventions
Summarizes the way that keywords, placeholders, and other elements of the language are formatted in the Visual Basic documentation.

Visual Basic Runtime Library Members
Lists the classes and modules of the Microsoft.VisualBasic namespace, with links to their member functions, methods, properties, constants, and enumerations.

Keywords
Lists all Visual Basic keywords and provides links to more information.

Attributes (Visual Basic)
Documents the attributes available in Visual Basic.

Constants and Enumerations
Documents the constants and enumerations available in Visual Basic.

Data Types
Documents the data types available in Visual Basic.

Directives
Documents the compiler directives available in Visual Basic.

Functions
Documents the run-time functions available in Visual Basic.

Modifiers
Lists the Visual Basic run-time modifiers and provides links to more information.

Modules
Documents the modules available in Visual Basic and their members.

Nothing
Describes the default value of any data type.

Objects
Documents the objects available in Visual Basic and their members.

Operators
Documents the operators available in Visual Basic.

Properties
Documents the properties available in Visual Basic.

Queries
Provides reference information about using Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) expressions in your code.

Statements
Documents the declaration and executable statements available in Visual Basic.

XML Comment Tags
Describes the documentation comments for which IntelliSense is provided in the Visual Basic Code Editor.

XML Axis Properties
Provides links to information about using XML axis properties to access XML directly in your code.

XML Literals
Provides links to information about using XML literals to incorporate XML directly in your code.

Error Messages
Provides a listing of Visual Basic compiler and run-time error messages and help on how to handle them.

Visual Basic Command-Line Compiler
Describes how to use the command-line compiler as an alternative to compiling programs from within the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE).