VB.NET Empty String Array

Question

How can I create an empty one-dimensional string array?

Answer 1

You don't have to include String twice, and you don't have to use New.
Either of the following will work...

Dim strings() as String = {}
Dim strings as String() = {}

Answer 2

A little verbose, but self documenting...

Dim strEmpty() As String = Enumerable.Empty(Of String).ToArray

Answer 3

Another way of doing this:

Dim strings() As String = {}

Testing that it is an empty string array:

MessageBox.Show("count: " + strings.Count.ToString)

Will show a message box saying "count: 0".

Answer 4

The array you created by Dim s(0) As String IS NOT EMPTY

In VB.Net, the subscript you use in the array is index of the last element. VB.Net by default starts indexing at 0, so you have an array that already has one element.

You should instead try using System.Collections.Specialized.StringCollection or (even better) System.Collections.Generic.List(Of String). They amount to pretty much the same thing as an array of string, except they're loads better for adding and removing items. And let's be honest: you'll rarely create an empty string array without wanting to add at least one element to it.

If you really want an empty string array, declare it like this:

Dim s As String()

or

Dim t() As String