`TypeOf`

How can we test the type of an Object instance in VB.NET? With the TypeOf operator, we can access and test the type of a variable.

With the Is keyword, we can test for a specific type (like String or a class). And IsNot tests that the type is not the specified one.

Example

To begin, this VB.NET example program introduces a simple class called Example. The Example class derives from Object (as do all classes).

Part 1 We create an instance of the Example class, and refer to it through a Object reference variable.

Part 2 We use the TypeOf operator along with the Is-keyword to test the the local variable is an instance of the Example class.

Part 3 The IsNot operator performs the opposite check—it is a clear way to combine the "Not" and "Is" operators.

Part 4 With TryCast, we cast our Object local variable back into an Example reference.

Part 5 With TypeOf, all base classes of a variable are also checked, and this means the Is-keyword will return True for Object.

Class Example
    Public Dim _name As String = "bird"
End Class

Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        ' Part 1: refer to a new Example instance as an Object.
        Dim t As Object = New Example()

        ' Part 2: use Is-operator with TypeOf to test type.
        If TypeOf t Is Example
            Console.WriteLine("Is Example")
        End If

        ' Part 3: use IsNot operator with TypeOf.
        If TypeOf t IsNot String
            Console.WriteLine("IsNot String")
        End If

        ' Part 4: use TryCast to get back to Example type.
        Dim e = TryCast(t, Example)
        If Not IsNothing(e)
            Console.WriteLine($"Name = {e._name}")
        End If

        ' Part 5: TypeOf Is can detect base classes like Object.
        If TypeOf e Is Object
            Console.WriteLine("Is Object")
        End If
    End Sub
End ModuleIs Example
IsNot String
Name = bird
Is Object

Summary

Though we cannot use the Is-keyword to directly test the type of a variable, we can use it as part of a TypeOf expression. This allows us to test types (and base types) in VB.NET.