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What is the use of New Keyword in VB.NET?

What is the use of New Keyword in VB.NET

What is the use of New Keyword in VB.NET

The New keyword in VB.NET is primarily used for creating instances of types—this includes both value types and reference types. The usage of New is crucial for initializing new objects, especially when dealing with classes and structures because it calls the appropriate constructor for the object, setting up the initial state.

Key Uses of the New Keyword

  1. Creating Instances of Classes: When you create an instance of a class, New allocates memory for that instance and invokes the constructor to initialize the object.
  2. Creating Instances of Structures: Even though structures are value types, you can use New to explicitly create instances of them, particularly to call a constructor that initializes the fields.
  3. Instantiating Arrays: New is used to create arrays by allocating memory for a specified number of elements.
  4. Object Initializers: From VB.NET 2010 onward, New can be used with object initializers to instantiate and initialize an object in a single expressive statement.

Code Snippet Examples

1. Creating an Instance of a Class

Consider a class Person with properties for FirstName and LastName. Here’s how you might use New to create an instance of this class:

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2. Creating an Instance of a Structure

Here’s an example of using New with a structure:

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3. Instantiating Arrays

Using New to create and initialize an array:

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4. Object Initializers

Using New with object initializers to instantiate and initialize an object in one step:

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Summary

The New keyword is fundamental in VB.NET for creating instances of types and for calling their constructors to properly initialize new objects. It ensures that objects are ready to use immediately after their creation, with all necessary initializations already handled. This behavior is vital for enforcing good programming practices around encapsulation and data integrity.

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