VB.

NET Operators
In VB.NET programming, the Operator is a symbol that is used to perform various operations on
variables. VB.NET has different types of Operators that help in performing logical and mathematical operations on
data values. The Operator precedence is used to determine the execution order of different Operators in the VB.NET
programming language.

What is VB.NET Operator?

In VB.NET, operator is a special symbol that tells the compiler to perform the specific logical or mathematical
operation on the data values. The data value itself (which can be either a variable or a constant) is called
an operand, and the Operator performs various operations on the operand.

For example: In the expression,

3+2-1

The symbol + and - are the Operators, and the 3, 2, and 1 are operands.

Different Types of VB.NET Operators

Following are the different types of Operators available in VB.NET:

o Arithmetic Operators
o Comparison Operators
o Logical and Bitwise Operators
o Bit Shift Operators
o Assignment Operators
o Concatenation Operators
o Miscellaneous Operators

Arithmetic Operators
The Arithmetic Operators in VB.NET, used to perform mathematical operations such as subtraction, addition,
multiplication, division, etc. on the operands in VB.NET. These are as follows:

Arithmetic Operators in VB.NET

Operators Description Example

^ It is an exponentiation Operator that is used to raises one operand to Y ^ X (X to the

the power of another operand. power Y)

+ The addition Operator is used to add numeric data, as well as X+Y

concatenate two string variables.
- It is a subtraction Operator, which is used to subtract the second X-Y
operand from the first operand.

* The multiplication Operator is used to multiply the operands X*Y

/ It is a division Operator used to divide one operand by another X/Y

operand and returns a floating-point result.

\ It is an integer division Operator, which is similar to division Operator, X\Y

except that it returns an integer result while dividing one operand to
another operand.

Mod It is a modulo (Modulus) Operator, which is used to divide two X Mod Y

operands and returns only a remainder.

Example of Arithmetic Operators in VB.NET:

Arithmetic_Operator.vb

Imports System
Module Arithmetic_Operator
Sub Main()
'Declare a, b And c as integer Data Type()
Dim a, b, c As Integer
Dim d As Single
a = 17
b=4
' Use of + Operator
c=a+b
Console.WriteLine(" Sum of a + b is {0}", c)

'Use of - Operator
c=a-b
Console.WriteLine(" Subtraction of a - b is {0}", c)

'Use of * Operator
c=a*b
Console.WriteLine(" Multiplication of a * b is {0}", c)

'Use of / Operator
d=a/b
Console.WriteLine(" Division of a / b is {0}", d)

'Use of \ Operator
 c=a\b
Console.WriteLine(" Similar to division Operator (return only integer value) of a - b is {0}", c)

'Use of Mod Operator

c = a Mod b
Console.WriteLine(" Modulus of a Mod b is {0}", c)

'Use of ^ Operator
c=a^b
Console.WriteLine(" Power of a ^ b is {0}", c)
Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit...")
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above program, by pressing the F5 button or Start button from the Visual Studio; then it
shows the following result:

Comparison Operators
As the name suggests, the Comparison Operator is used to compare the value of two variables or operands for the
various condition such as greater, less than or equal, etc. and returns a Boolean value either true or false based on the
condition.

Operator Description Example

= It checks whether the value of the two operands is equal; If (A = B)

yes, it returns a true value, otherwise it shows False.

<> It is a Non-Equality Operator that checks whether the value of (A <> B), check Non-
the two operands is not equal; it returns true; otherwise, it Equality
shows false.

> A greater than symbol or Operator is used to determine (A > B); if yes, TRUE,
 whether the value of the left operand is greater than the
value of the right operand; If the condition is true, it returns Else FALSE
TRUE; otherwise, it shows FALSE value.

< It is a less than symbol which checks whether the value of the (A < B); if the condition is
left operand is less than the value of the right operand; If the true, returns TRUE else
condition is true, it returns TRUE; otherwise, it shows FALSE FALSE
value.

>= It is greater than equal to which checks two conditions A >= B

whether the first operand is greater than or equal to the
second operand; if yes, it returns TRUE; otherwise, it shows
False.

<= This symbol represents less than equal to which determines A <= B
the first operand is less than or equal to the second operand,
and if the condition is true, it returns TRUE; otherwise, it
shows FALSE.

Is The Is Operator is used to validate whether the two objects result = obj1 Is obj2
reference the same variable or object; If the test is true, it
returns True; otherwise, the result is False. In short, it checks
the equality of the objects. An Is Operator is also used to
determine whether the object refers to a valid object.

IsNot The IsNot Operator is similar to Is Operator, except that the Result = obj1 IsNot obj2
two object references the different object; if yes, the result is
True; otherwise, the result is False.

Like The Like Operator is used to check the pattern expression of result = string Like the
string variable; And if the pattern matched, the result is True; pattern, the pattern
otherwise, it returns False. represents the series of
characters used by Like
Operator.

Example of Comparison Operators in VB.NET

Comparison_Operator.vb

Imports System
Module Comparison_Operator
Sub Main()
'declaration of Integer, Object and String Data Type variables
Dim x As Integer = 5
Dim y As Integer = 10
Dim Result, obj, obj2 As Object
Dim str, str2 As String
str = "Apple12345"
str2 = "Apple12345"
 obj = 10
obj2 = 20

Console.WriteLine(" Program of Comparison Operator")

'Use of > Operator
Console.WriteLine(" Output of x > y is {0}", x > y)

'Use of < Operator

Console.WriteLine(" Output of x < y is {0}", x < y)

'Use of = Operator
Console.WriteLine(" Output of x = y is {0}", x = y)

'Use of <> Operator

Console.WriteLine(" Output of x <> y is {0}", x <> y)

'Use of >= Operator

Console.WriteLine(" Output of x >= y is {0}", x >= y)

'Use of <= Operator

Console.WriteLine(" Output of x <= y is {0}", x <= y)

'Use of Is Operator
Result = obj Is obj2
Console.WriteLine(" Output of obj Is obj2 is {0}", Result)

'Use of Is Operator
Result = obj IsNot obj2
Console.WriteLine(" Output of obj IsNot obj2 is {0}", Result)

'Use of Like Operator

Result = str Like str2
Console.WriteLine(" Output of str Like str2 is {0}", Result)

Console.WriteLine(" Press any key to exit...")

Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above code by pressing the F5 button or Start button in Visual studio, it returns the
following output:
Logical and Bitwise Operators
The logical and bitwise Operators work with Boolean (true or false) conditions, and if the conditions become true, it
returns a Boolean value. The following are the logical and bitwise Operators used to perform the various logical
operations such as And, Or, Not, etc. on the operands (variables). Suppose there are two operand A and B, where A is
True, and B is False.

Operator Description Example

And The And Operator represents, whether both the operands are true; the (A And B),
result is True. result = False

Or It is an Or Operator that returns a true value; if anyone operand is true (A Or B), result
from both the operands. = True

Not The Not Operator is used to reverse the logical condition. For example, Not A
if the operand's logic is True, it reveres the condition and makes it False.
Or

Not(A And B) is
True

Xor It is an Exclusive OR Operator that represents, whether both the A Xor B is True
expression is true or false, the result is True; otherwise, the result is
False.

AndAlso It is a logical AND Operator that performs short-circuit operation on the A AndAlso B =
variables, and if both the operands are true, the result is True else the False
result is False.

OrElse It is a logical OR Operator that perform short-circuit operation on A OrElse B =

Boolean data. If anyone of the operand is true, the result is True else the True
result is False.

IsFalse The IsFalse Operator is used to determine whether an expression is

False.
IsTrue The IsTrue Operator is used to determine whether an expression is True.

Example of Logical and Bitwise Operator:

Logic_Bitwise.vb

Imports System
Module Logic_Bitwise
Sub Main()
Dim A As Boolean = True
Dim B As Boolean = False
Dim c, d As Integer
c = 10
d = 20

'Use of And Operator

If A And B Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operands A And B are True")
End If

'Use of Or Operator
If A Or B Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operands A Or B are True")
End If

'Use of Xor Operator

If A Xor B Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operands A Xor B is True")
End If

'Use of And Operator

If c And d Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operands c And d is True")
End If

'Use of Or Operator
If c Or d Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operands c Or d is True")
End If

'Use of AndAlso Operator

 If A AndAlso B Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operand A AndAlso B is True")
End If

'Use of OrElse Operator

If A OrElse B Then
Console.WriteLine(" Operand A OrElse B is True")
End If

'Use of Not Operator

If Not (A And B) Then
Console.WriteLine(" Output of Not (A And B) is True")
End If

Console.WriteLine(" Press any key to exit?")

Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above code by pressing the F5 button or Start button in Visual studio, it returns the
following output:

Bit Shift Operators

The Bit Shit Operators are used to perform the bit shift operations on binary values either to the right or to the left.

Bit Shift operations in VB.NET

Operator Description

AND The Binary AND Operator are used to copy the common binary bit in the result if the bit
exists in both operands.

OR The Binary OR Operator is used to copy a common binary bit in the result if the bit found
in either operand.
XOR The Binary XOR Operator in VB.NET, used to determine whether a bit is available to copy in
one operand instead of both.

Not The binary NOT Operator is also known as the binary Ones' Compliment Operator, which is
used to flip binary bits. This means it converts the bits from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0 binary bits.

<< The Binary Left Shift Operator is used to shift the bit to the left side.

>> The Binary Right Shift Operator is used to shift the bit to the right side.

Example of Bit Shift Operator in VB.NET:

BitShift_Operator.vb

Imports System
Module Bitshift_Operator
Sub Main()
Dim x, y, z As Integer
x = 12
y = 25
Dim a, b As Double
a = 5 ' a = 5(00000101)
b = 9 ' b = 9(00001001)

' Use of And Operator

z = x And y
Console.WriteLine(" BitShift Operator x And y is {0}", z)

'Use of Or Operator
z = x Or y
Console.WriteLine(" BitShift Operator x Or y is {0}", z)

z = x Xor y
Console.WriteLine(" BitShift Operator x Xor y is {0}", z)

z = Not y
Console.WriteLine(" BitShift Operator Not y is {0}", z)

'Use of << Left-Shift Operator

' Output is 00001010
Console.WriteLine(" Bitwise Left Shift Operator - a<<1 = {0}", a << 1)

'Output is 00010010
 Console.WriteLine(" Bitwise Left Shift Operator - b<<1 = {0}", b << 1)

'Use of >> Right-Shift Operator

'Output is 00000010
Console.WriteLine(" Bitwise Right Shift Operator - a>>1 = {0}", a << 1)

'Output is 00000100
Console.WriteLine(" Bitwise Right Shift Operator - b>>1 = {0}", a << 1)

Console.WriteLine(" Press any key to exit...")

Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above code by pressing the F5 button or Start button in Visual studio, it returns the
following output:

Assignment Operators
The Assignment Operators are used to assign the value to variables in VB.NET.

Assignment Operators in VB.NET

Operator Description Example

= It is a simple assignment Operator used to assign a right- X = 5, X assign a value 5

side operand or value to a left side operand. X = P + Q, (P + Q) variables
or value assign to X.

+= An Add AND assignment Operator is used to add the value X += 5, which means
of the right operand to the left operand. And the result is X= X+5 ( 5 will add and
assigned to the left operand. assign to X and then result
saved to Left X operand)

-= It is a Subtract AND assignment Operator, which subtracts X -= P, which is same as X =

 the right operand or value from the left operand. And then, X-P
the result will be assigned to the left operand.

*= It is a Multiply AND assignment Operator, which multiplies X *= P, which is same as X =

the right operand or value with the left operand. And then, X-P
the result will be assigned to the left operand.

/= It is a Divide AND assignment Operator, which divides the X /= P, which is same as X =

left operand or value with the right operand. And then, the X-P
result will be assigned to the left operand (in floating-point).

\= It is a Divide AND assignment Operator, which divides the X \= P, which is same as X =

left operand or value with the right operand. And then, the X-P
result will be assigned to the left operand (in integer-point
division).

^= It is an expression AND assignment Operator, which raises X ^= P, which is same as X

the left operand or value to the right operand's power. And =X^P
then, the result will be assigned to the left operand.

&= It is a concatenate string assignment Operator used to bind Str &= name, which is same
the right-hand string or variable with the left-hand string or as Str = Str & name
variable. And then, the result will be assigned to the left
operand.

Example of Assignment Operator in VB.NET:

Assign_Operator.vb

Imports System
Module Assign_Operator
Sub Main()
'Declare variable and b As Integer
Dim A As Integer = 5
Dim B As Integer
Dim Str, name As String
name = "come"
Str = "Wel"

'Use of = Operator
B=A
Console.WriteLine(" Assign value A to B is {0}", B)

'Use of += Operator
B += A
Console.WriteLine(" Output of B += A is {0}", B)
 'Use of -= Operator
B -= A
Console.WriteLine(" Output of B -= A is {0}", B)

'Use of *= Operator
B *= A
Console.WriteLine(" Output of B *= A is {0}", B)

'Use of /= Operator
B /= A
Console.WriteLine(" Output of B /= A is {0}", B)

'Use of = Operator
B \= A
Console.WriteLine(" Output of B \= A is {0}", B)

'Use of ^= Operator
B ^= A
Console.WriteLine(" Output of B ^= A is {0}", B)

'Use of &= Operator

Str &= name
Console.WriteLine(" Output of Str &= name is {0}", Str)

Console.WriteLine(" Press any key to exit...")

Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above code by pressing the F5 button or Start button in Visual studio, it returns the
following output:
Concatenation Operators
In VB.NET, there are two concatenation Operators to bind the operands:

Operator Description Example

& It is an ampersand symbol that is used to bind two or more operand Result = Wel
together. Furthermore, a nonstring operand can also be concatenated & come,
with a string variable ( but in that case, Option Strict is on). Result =
Welcome

+ It is also used to add or concatenate two number or string. Result = Wel

+ come,
Result =
Welcome

Example of Concatenation Operators in VB.NET.

MyProgram.vb

Imports System
Module MyProgram
Sub Main()
Dim str As String = "Wel"
Dim str2 As String = "come"
Dim str3 As String = " "
Dim str4 As String = "to JavatPoint"
Dim result As String
Dim result2 As String
result = str & str2
Console.WriteLine(" Result = str & str2 gives = {0}", result)
result2 = str + str2 + str3 + str4
Console.WriteLine(" Result = str + str2 + str3 +str4 gives = {0}", result2.ToString)
Console.ReadLine()
 End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above code by pressing the F5 button or Start button in Visual studio, it returns the
following output:

Miscellaneous Operators
There are some important Operator in VB.NET

Operator Description Example

Await An Await Operator is used in an operand to Dim output as out = Await

suspend the execution of an asynchronous AsyncMethodThatReturnsResult() Await
method or lambda expression until the AsyncMethod()
awaited task completes.

AddressOf The AddressOf Operator is used to provide AddHandler Button2.Click, AddressOf

a reference to the address of a procedure. Button2_Click

GetType A GetType Operator is used to retrieve the MsgBox(GetType(String).ToString())

type of the specified object. In addition, the
retrieved object type provides various
information such as methods, properties,
and events.

Function It defines the lambda expression, which Dim mul2 = Function(num As Integer) num
Expression declares the parameter and code. A * 4
Lambda expression is a function that is Console.WriteLine(mul2(4))
used to calculate and return value without
defining the name.

If The If Operator using short circuit Dim a = -4

evaluation to conditionally return a single Console.WriteLine(If (a >= 0,
object value from two defined object "Positive", "Negative"))
values. The If Operator can be used with
two or three defined arguments.

Example of Miscellaneous Operators in VB.NET.

Misc_Operator.vb
 Imports System
Module Misc_Operator
Sub Main()
' Initialize a variable
Dim a As Integer = 50
' GetType of the Defined Type
Console.WriteLine(GetType(Double).ToString())
Console.WriteLine(GetType(Integer).ToString())
Console.WriteLine(GetType(String).ToString())
Console.WriteLine(GetType(Single).ToString())
Console.WriteLine(GetType(Decimal).ToString())

'Use of Function()
Dim multiplywith10 = Function(sum As Integer) sum * 10
Console.WriteLine(multiplywith10(10))
Console.WriteLine(If(a >= 0, "Negative", "Positive"))

Console.WriteLine(" Press any key to exit...")

Console.ReadLine()

End Sub
End Module

Now compile and execute the above code by pressing the F5 button or Start button in Visual studio, it returns the
following output: