[VB.NET] Private variables in a Module?

Question

Normally inside a Class, we have some private variables because of the need for encapsulation. But does encapsulation also apply to Module?

Should I write:

Module Module1

Private p As Person

Sub Main()
...
End Sub

End Module

Or I should write:

Module Module1

Dim p As Person

Sub Main()
...
End Sub

End Module

Thank you very much for your help.

Answer 1

Encapsulation also applies to a module. The major difference between the Class and Module is that a class object may be duplicated many times and cuctoms events can be defined.

You can define Public and Private variable, properties and methods in a module just as in a class.


I preferr to define module level variables with either Public or Private and NEVER Dim. I reserve DIM for use exclusively within Subroutines and Functions.

Most variables I declare at module level are Private unless there is some rare need for a global variable. I also preface each module variable with either m_ or g_ to indicate it is either Private or Public.

Rather than define global variables you can create Public properties.

Private m_P as Person
Public g_P as Person

Public Property P as Person

get
p = m_P
end get

set P (Value as Person)

m_P = value
end set
end property



Also I don't like to define global and public variables/properties with single character names. It is to easy to mistype and create a logic error rather than a syntax error. Syntax error are easy to find and won't compile unlike a logic error. So I might change the above property from P as Person to somthing like myPerson.

Answer 2

Inside a module, I am pretty sure that variables are private by default. Meaning that the two that you wrote are the same. Unless you say public p as person, then p won't be accessible outside the module.

Answer 3

http://www.hacking-passion.com