What are the differences between C# and VB.NET apart from syntax?

Question

Hi. What are the differences between C# and VB.NET apart from syntax?which is more powerful,how do we determine which language to be used when designing a .NET app?

Vulpes · Answer

In normal C# code, you can't use pointers because pointers could point anywhere in memory which means that the CLR would be unable to verify the code. However, by using the 'unsafe' keyword, you can use pointers provided that you take responsibility for any errors that may occur as a result of the code being unverifiable. In my experience, unsafe code is only used in a small minority of applications - mostly those which are interfacing with hardware or with code written in unmanaged languages such as C/C++. So this is not really a major omission as far as VB.NET is concerned. Apart from this, there's a long list of minor differences between C# and VB.NET but none of them are significant enough to sway you one way or the other when choosing between the two languages, IMO.

Deepali Patil · Answer

Thanks a ton:)

Deepali Patil · Answer

Thanks a ton:)

Deepali Patil · Answer

OK:)...But question again is what is unsafe code in c#? and is this is only difference?

Vulpes · Answer

In the latest versions of these languages, the only significant difference IMO is that C# supports the use of pointers in unsafe code and VB.NET does not (and, probably, never will). Otherwise, the languages are equally powerful and equally fast, and which you prefer is just a matter of previous programming background (C/C++/Java programmers will generally prefer C# and VB6 users will prefer VB.NET) or of individual taste.

What are the differences between C# and VB.NET apart from syntax?

Answers (5)