How do VB.NET static classes work?

Question

I understood them to be modules, such as my little one:

Public Module Config
    Public Property ImportSettings As ImportConfig
    Sub New()
        ImportSettings = ImportConfig.Read()
    End Sub
End Module

Yet, I cannot access ImportSettings. I'm told it's not declared, and its value is 'Nothing'.

You cannot initialize a module. It cannot be used as a type. — OneFineDay, Oct 02 '14 at 04:02
possible duplicate of [Classes vs. Modules in VB.Net](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/881570/classes-vs-modules-in-vb-net) | And here's a bonus link: [google.com?q=vb.net module statement](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aaxss7da.aspx). — Bjørn-Roger Kringsjå, Oct 02 '14 at 05:50
@OneFineDay - not quite true. You can have a "static constructor" in a module — Matt Wilko, Oct 02 '14 at 08:56

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 02 '14 at 04:08

Static(C#)/Shared(VB) method/property in a class:

Public Class Config
  Public Shared ReadOnly Property ImportSettings As ImportConfig
    Get
       Return ImportConfig.Read()
    End Get
  End Property
End Class

Usage:

Dim configs = Config.ImportSettings

Since it is Static/Shared we do not need to initialize the Config class.

How do VB.NET static classes work?

1 Answers1