VB

Vb typically refers to Visual Basic, a family of programming languages from Microsoft designed for developing Windows applications. The family includes classic Visual Basic (often called VB6 and earlier), Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), and Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET).

Visual Basic originated in 1991 as a rapid application development tool with a graphical forms designer and event-driven programming model. Visual Basic 6.0, released in 1998, was the last major release of the classic VB lineage and gained broad use for Windows desktop software. With the advent of the .NET Framework in the early 2000s, Microsoft introduced VB.NET in 2002, a redesigned language that runs on the Common Language Runtime and supports modern object-oriented programming, extensive libraries, and cross-language interoperability.

VBA is embedded in Microsoft Office applications for automation and customization. VBScript is a scripting language used in Windows scripting and classic ASP. VB.NET and its IDEs (notably Visual Studio) emphasize form-based GUI development, rapid application development, and access to .NET libraries. The language differences from classic VB include stricter type checking (Option Strict) and a shift to the .NET class model and assemblies.

Current status: Visual Basic remains a supported language within the .NET platform, primarily used for maintaining existing VB codebases or for teams with VB expertise. Microsoft has focused most new .NET development on C#, while VB.NET continues in a maintenance and compatibility role. The VB ecosystem includes extensive tooling, documentation, and community resources.

Related topics include Visual Basic, VBA, and VBScript.