Visual Basic (VB) has become the most popular programming language for several reasons. VB is easy to learn, which makes it an excellent tool for understanding elementary programming concepts. In addition, it has evolved into such a powerful and popular product that skilled Visual Basic programmers are in demand in the job market.

Visual Basic .NET, the latest version of VB, is practically a new language. Microsoft has completely rewritten the language to be fully object-oriented, compatible with many other languages using the new .NET Framework. This book incorporates the object-oriented concepts throughout, as well as the new syntax and terminology of the language.

Visual Basic .NET is designed to allow the programmer to develop applications that run under Windows and/or in a Web browser without the complexity generally associated with programming. With very little effort, the programmer can design a screen that holds standard elements such as buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, text boxes, and list boxes. Each of these objects operates as expected, producing a “standard” Windows or Web user interface.