When you use arrays, you can refer to multiple variables by the same name, using a number called an index or subscript to distinguish them from one another. Arrays can shorten and simplify your code, allowing you to create loops that deal efficiently with any number of elements.

In This Section

Arrays Overview

Explains what arrays are and how they work, including information on dimensionality, size, and type.

Array Usage

Provides information on how to use arrays, including multidimensional arrays.

Declaring Array Variables

Provides information on using Dim, Public, Protected, Friend, Protected Friend, and Private.

Advanced Features of Arrays

Describes assigning the contents of one array to another, and returning an array from a function.

Arrays of Arrays

Describes creating an Object array and populating it with other arrays of different data types.

Collections as an Alternative to Arrays

Provides information on storing items in a collection instead of an array, a practice that can be more efficient in some scenarios.

Related Sections

Language Changes in Visual Basic

Provides an overview of the new features in Visual Basic .NET.

Object-Oriented Programming in Visual Basic

Covers object-oriented programming basics.