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Learn more about: How to: Use a Generic Class (Visual Basic)
How to: Use a Generic Class
07/20/2015
type parameters [Visual Basic], defining
data type arguments [Visual Basic], defining
arguments [Visual Basic], data types
Of keyword [Visual Basic], using
generic parameters
data type parameters
generics [Visual Basic], about generics
data types [Visual Basic], as parameters
data types [Visual Basic], as arguments
parameters [Visual Basic], type
types [Visual Basic], generic
parameters [Visual Basic], generic
generics [Visual Basic], creating generic types
data type arguments
parameters [Visual Basic], data type
data type parameters [Visual Basic], defining
type arguments [Visual Basic], defining
arguments [Visual Basic], type
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How to: Use a Generic Class (Visual Basic)

A class that takes type parameters is called a generic class. If you are using a generic class, you can generate a constructed class from it by supplying a type argument for each of these parameters. You can then declare a variable of the constructed class type, and you can create an instance of the constructed class and assign it to that variable.

In addition to classes, you can also define and use generic structures, interfaces, procedures, and delegates.

The following procedure takes a generic class defined in the .NET Framework and creates an instance from it.

To use a class that takes a type parameter

  1. At the beginning of your source file, include an Imports Statement (.NET Namespace and Type) to import the xref:System.Collections.Generic?displayProperty=nameWithType namespace. This allows you to refer to the xref:System.Collections.Generic.Queue%601?displayProperty=nameWithType class without having to fully qualify it to differentiate it from other queue classes such as xref:System.Collections.Queue?displayProperty=nameWithType.

  2. Create the object in the normal way, but add (Of type) immediately after the class name.

    The following example uses the same class (xref:System.Collections.Generic.Queue%601?displayProperty=nameWithType) to create two queue objects that hold items of different data types. It adds items to the end of each queue and then removes and displays items from the front of each queue.

    [!code-vbVbVbalrDataTypes#9]

See also