Virtual Basic. NET is an object-oriented programming language often implemented on the .NET framework. This article will look at some of the common questions you should expect when interviewing for a position that requires VB.Net knowledge. Take a look at the following:
1. What is VB.Net?
VB.NET, fully known as visual basic.net, is a programming language implemented on the .NET framework. It is general-purpose and object-oriented and shouldn’t be confused with VB6. This language is well structured and can produce efficient programs. It is easy to learn, just like any other .NET language. Everything is treated as an object, including user-defined types. Lastly, VB.NET has access to all the libraries in the .NET framework.
2. Mention the Advantages of VB.Net
Like any other programming language, VB.Net comes with its fair share of advantages. It can handle pointers indirectly, offering applications more stability and security. It also supports optional parameters that significantly improve interoperability. This language has VB functionalities that the Microsoft VisualBasic namespace can use. It further offers managed code execution, which helps build robust and secure applications. Lastly, it allows data to be passed in test strings thanks to XML.
3. What are the Differences Between VB.NET and C#?
There exist several differences between these two languages. The first and obvious one stems from their pronunciation. Whereas VB.NET is pronounced as Visual Basic .NET given that it is an updated feature and version of Classic Visual Basic 6.0. C# is pronounced as C SHARP as it belongs to the C family. VB.NET is capable of structured and unstructured error handling. In contrast, C# only supports structured error handling. Events are automatically bound in VB.NET but impossible on C#. Lastly, each statement doesn’t end with a semicolon in VB.NET but does so in C#.
4. Do You Know the Difference Between VB and VB.NET?
VB, also known as VB Classic, is VB.NET’s predecessor, no longer actively maintained by the providers. The language was known as VB up to the sixth version but was later termed VB.NET after the seventh version came out with .Net 1.0. Whereas VB.NET is an object-oriented language, VB6 is a non-object-oriented principle-based language. Even though VB.NET looks similar to VB6, it is more potent as it is implemented in the .Net platform. Lastly, VB can develop multi-thread applications, a quality that VB.NET lacks.
5. Explain What Option Strict and Option Explicit are in VB.NET
The strict option keyword, known as the Option Strict, is used by VB.NET to prevent data loss during conversion. It, therefore, facilitates compile-time notification in data type conversions. On the other hand, Option Explicit is often used to declare variables in a file through declare keywords, including Private explicitly, Public, and Dim Protected. The Option Explicit can be set on or off. However, on is the default and requires that all variables are declared before use.
6. What are the Differences Between Dataset and DataReader?
DataReader retrieves read-only and forward-only data from a given database while allowing users to choose specific data from the database. In contrast, a dataset is a collection of in-memory tables. Secondly, DataReader retrieves records from the database before storing them in the network buffer and releasing them as executables. In contrast, the dataset releases data after all the data in the memory has loaded. Lastly, DataReader cannot facilitate the retrieval of random records as it is forward only. At the same time, the dataset lets a user or programmer move back and forth, randomly retrieving records as required.
7. What Do You Understand By Authentication and Authorization?
These two concepts go hand in hand. Authentication verifies a user’s identity by obtaining a few credentials and using them to ascertain its identity. The authorization process begins only if the credentials are valid, meaning that this process comes before authorization. On the other hand, authorization determines what a user can do. If you are an administrative user, you will be allowed to develop a document library to add, edit, create and delete documents. A non-administrative user, on the other hand, will only be able to read the documents.
8. Explain the Different Types of Authentication in VB.Net
There are three types of Authentication in VB.Net: windows, forms, and passport authentication. Windows authentication, formerly known as NTLM, is one of the securest forms of Authentication since the user name and password are often hashed before being related across different networks. Forms authentication relays your identity to the ASP.NET application through a forms authentication ticket. The passport notification identifies a user using the email address and password. It is worth noting that one can use a single passport account with several websites.
9. Tell Us More about the Global Assembly Cache(GAC)
The Global Assembly Catch, christened GAC, stores assemblies that need to be shared in a computer by multiple applications. It is mainly used when a unique security requirement in the either.NET assembly is present and also comes in handy when .NET applications need to be shared with other applications. It can also be defined as a machine-wide code cache present in every computer with Common Language Runtime that stores assemblies meant to be shared by several computer applications. It can be found in the Windows assembly, a shared repository of libraries.
10. Tell Us More about Data Validation in VB.Net
As the name suggests, data validation ascertains whether the data fed onto a program by a user has the correct format or type. This process, therefore, checks the accuracy and quality of a data source before importing or processing the data. There exist several different types of data validation in VB.Net, such as data type validation, code checking, complex validation, and range checking. These ensure that only perfect types and data formats are fed into a program. Data validation applies to data fed to a program by a user’s input or a file.
11. What Do You Understand by Shared Variation in VB.NET?
In VB.NET, the variable refers to the name of a storage area that a program can manipulate. All the variables in VB.NET are of a particular type, size, and layout. This usually determines the number of values they can store in the particular memory and the number of operations applied to the variable. Therefore, a shared variation or event is usually stored in memory once, making it one of the most common variables in VB.NET. Therefore, it does not matter the number of times one creates its class or structure.
12. Explain What Shared Methods Mean in VB.NET
Shared methods allow the existence of a method regardless of whether or not a class has been created. It is pretty different from other methods since all the functionalities and data consumed are global in all class instances. The same also applies to data processed and returned. These methods usually belong to the class and not an instance. They can be accessed from anywhere, as long as the scope allows. In short, a shared method is more of a regular method.
13. What Does Static Variable Mean in VB.NET?
The static variable is capable of continued existence. Therefore, it retains most of its recent value as it is not usually reinitialized if the code calls the procedure again. This variable usually retains the value assigned to it by the user, hence the name static. It is also worth noting that this variable exists for the lifetime of the class or module. It is also worth noting that the static variable in VB.NET is different from that in C, even though both survive for the entire lifetime of the application.
14. Do You Know What Queue is in VB.NET?
The simplest way of defining a queue in VB.NET is a generic collection. It usually implements a FIFO algorithm, allowing one to keep sliding a cache of elements. Queue represents a first-in and first-out object collection and comes in handy whenever there is a need to access items similarly. Adding any item to the list is usually called en queue, whereas removing the same items from the list can be referred to as deque. It is also worth mentioning that it comes in handy in the temporary storage of information, just like stacks.
15. What is Stack?
A stack uses a similar approach as a queue, just that it uses a different algorithm. It is a generic collection that stores elements following the LIFO or last in, first out algorithm. It, therefore, comes in handy whenever one needs a last in and first in access of items and, like a queue, comes in handy in the temporary storage of information. To explain its functionality in simple terms, the stack usually adds elements to its top through push operation, just like the name suggests. To retrieve items from the stack, one must use a pop operation. Note that the last item is retrieved first.
16. What are Some of the Shortcomings of VB.NET?
The main shortcoming of VB.NET is its incapability to handle pointers directly. This is particularly limiting owing to the importance of pointers in computer programming. Programmers, therefore, have to undergo several CPU cycles, which instead increase the processing time. VB.NET being easy to learn is also a considerable disadvantage. Unlike other programming languages, this particular one is easy to grasp, meaning that it has created a large talent pool. Most employers will therefore require the knowledge of an additional language. Lastly, it is rarely used by professional developers, given that the syntax is bulky and clumsy.
17. Do You Think VB.NET is a Dead Language?
There have been many discussions in the programming world on VB.NET, with some people arguing that it is a dead language given its unpopularity among professional developers. Whereas the second part of the statement is actual, the first is inaccurate. VB.NET is not dead. Microsoft hasn’t recalled it yet and will continue supporting it. However, the company will no longer add any more features to it, which may explain why most people refer to it as dead. It continues to be a helpful language.
18. Some People Argue that VB.NET is Better Than C#. How True is that?
Even though VB.NET is not popular among professional programmers, I agree that it is better than C# based on my experience with both. VB.NET uses implicit casting, which makes coding easier, whereas C# requires lots of casting and conversions for the same lines of code. VB also comes with better auto-correction techniques compared to C#. Additionally, it is easier to handle events in VB.NET than C#. Thanks to the former, event handlers are connected to object variables and not objects. Those are just a few reasons I believe VB.NET is better than C#.
19. What is a BinaryWriter Class in VB.NET?
A BinaryWriter Class writes binary data to a particular stream. An object is usually created after a FileStream is passed to the constructor. One can, therefore, accurately say that BinaryWriter creates a binary file that has a layout of bytes. Programmers can write individual bytes, integers, and strings. It is worth noting that to write a binary file, one must set up a BinaryWriter object. There are different commonly used methods of BinaryWriter Class.
20. What is TreeView Control in VB.NET?
The tree view control is a window displaying a hierarchical list of items. These usually include document headings, the entries made in an index, and the files or directories found on a disk. Most tree view controls have roots, expanded, and collapsed nodes. It, therefore, displays hierarchical representations of items matching the display of folders and files in Window Explorer. It is worth noting that every node typically contains one or more child nodes. This control allows users to come up with a Windows Explorer-like interface.
21. Explain ListView Control
The list view control displays a list of items, as the name suggests. It is usually used alongside the TreeView control to create a Windows explorer-like interface. Most of the items displayed in the ListView Control have text labels, icons, and checkboxes. This control can display items in several modes, regardless of whether the icons are small or full-sized. Additional information is usually contained in columns found on the right side of the item. It is also worth noting that the ListView Control has a number of properties, such as items and gridlines.
22. Do You Understand What RadioButton Control is in VB.NET?
The RadioButton is one of the most popular controls in VB.NET. It usually offers mutually exclusive options. Even though a user can select one radio button in a group, placing more than one group in the same form requires different container controls such as GroupBox controls. This button comes with many properties, including Text, Tab Stop, Checked, CheckAlign, AutoCheck, and appearance. The most common method of the RadioButton Control is PerfomClick which generates a Click event after a click simulation by the user.
23. What is the Use of FileInfo in VB.NET?
FileInfo is usually used when performing several operations on the same file. Therefore, the FileInfo calls come in handy in creating new files and accessing required information. This class is a derivation of FileSystemInfo class. It has properties and methods that help create, copy, move, open, and create files. If you wonder how it opens files, this typically occurs in a specified mode thanks to the read, write, write/read, and specified sharing options. It is also worth mentioning that FileInfor calls refreshes and caches information when first called.
24. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?
I love new experiences and challenges. After being the lead DevOps engineer in my former workplace for seven years, I decided to step down and give someone else a chance to learn more and improve their experience as I look for a new workplace that will expose me to new challenges. I, therefore, left on good terms and even had a farewell party organized for me while leaving. This job will furnish me with these challenges, allowing me to build my experience and better my career. I am ready to work twice as hard to be helpful to the workplace if given a chance.
25. Explain What StreamWriter Class is in VB.NET
The StreamWriter class, just like the name suggests, is often used to write text to a stream. It is a derivation of the Textwriter Class and permits the creation of an instance by assigning the StreamWriter Class a stream object or passing a file to one of the constructors. It is worth noting that this differs from BinaryWriter as StreamWriter mainly focuses on the text while BinaryWriter streams of specific encodings. If you are wondering what a stream is, it is an i/o class field that reads and writes bytes of data as a continuous sequence.
Conclusion
These are some of the common VB.NET interview questions you will likely encounter in your upcoming interview. You must have noticed that most of them are technical, which means that you need to be able to handle the technical aspects of this field well. We wish you all the best.
