Array.Copy. In VB.NET, arrays are initialized to empty memory. But we can copy one array to another with the Array.Copy subroutine.
Copy notes. This function assigns each element in one to each element in another. In this way we effectively initialize arrays.
Example. This program creates 2 five-element arrays. In VB.NET, when we create a five-element array we specify the maximum index of 4. In this program, we assign all 5 elements.
Info Copy() populates the elements of the target array with the elements of the source array. The two arrays are separate in memory.
Module Module1
Sub Main()
' Source array of 5 elements.
Dim source(4) As Integer
source(0) = 1
source(1) = 2
source(2) = 3
source(3) = 4
source(4) = 5
' Create target array and use Array.Copy.
Dim target(4) As Integer
Array.Copy(source, target, target.Length)
' Display target array.
For Each element As Integer In target
Console.WriteLine(element)
Next
End Sub
End Module1
2
3
4
5
Several overloads of Array.Copy are available. The simplest overload is shown above—it copies a specified number of elements starting at the first element from one array to another.
And With other overloads, we can specify a sourceIndex and a destinationIndex. This makes it possible to copy a range of elements at an offset.
Tip Using the simplest overload for the required task is ideal. But some programs are simpler overall with the complex overloads.
Summary. Arrays are powerful. With Array.Copy, and related subroutines such as Array.Resize, we manually manipulate arrays—their lengths and their elements.
Dot Net Perls is a collection of tested code examples. Pages are continually updated to stay current, with code correctness a top priority.
Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.
This page was last updated on Mar 10, 2023 (edit).
