We also
describe namespaces and how you can use them to logically partition types and functionality
within your applications.
Chapter 3, ???Classes and Structures,??? provides details about defining types in VB 2008.
You??™ll learn more about value types and reference types in the CLR. We also discuss the inefficiencies
inherent in boxing and discuss object creation, initialization, and destruction.
xvii
Chapter 4, ???Methods, Properties, and Fields,??? discusses using methods to add behavior to
your types, using properties to enforce encapsulation, and using fields to represent the state of
your object. You??™ll explore method parameter types, overloading, property modifiers, and field
initializers.
Chapter 5, ???VB 2008 and the CLR,??? expands on Chapter 1 and quickly explores the managed
environment within which VB 2008 applications run. We introduce you to assemblies,
which are the basic building blocks of applications into which VB 2008 code files are compiled.
Additionally, you??™ll see how metadata makes assemblies self-describing.
Chapter 6, ???Interfaces,??? details interfaces and the role they play in the VB 2008 language.
Interfaces provide a functionality contract that types may choose to implement. You??™ll learn
the various ways that a type may implement an interface, as well as how the runtime chooses
which methods to call when an interface method is called.
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