VB.Net .Clear() or txtbox.Text = "" textbox clear methods

Question

Not far into programming and just joined this forum of mighty company so this is a silly question, but what is the best way to clear textboxes in VB.Net and what is the difference between the two methods? I have also seen people be critical of folk using clear objects on their forms and I can see why but in this case, I am only learning.

txtbox1.Clear()

or

txtbox1.Text = ""

Any help is much appreciated.

Solution 1

The two methods are 100% equivalent.

I’m not sure why Microsoft felt the need to include this extra Clear method but since it’s there, I recommend using it, as it clearly expresses its purpose.

Solution 2

The Clear method is defined as

    public void Clear() { 
        Text = null;
    } 

The Text property's setter starts with

        set { 
            if (value == null) { 
                value = "";
            } 

I assume this answers your question.

Solution 3

Add this code in the Module :

Public Sub ClearTextBoxes(frm As Form) 

    For Each Control In frm.Controls
        If TypeOf Control Is TextBox Then
            Control.Text = ""     'Clear all text
        End If       
    Next Control

End Sub

Add this code in the Form window to Call the Sub routine:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Call ClearTextBoxes(Me)
End Sub

Solution 4

Public Sub EmptyTxt(ByVal Frm As Form)
    Dim Ctl As Control
    For Each Ctl In Frm.Controls
        If TypeOf Ctl Is TextBox Then Ctl.Text = ""
        If TypeOf Ctl Is GroupBox Then
            Dim Ctl1 As Control
            For Each Ctl1 In Ctl.Controls
                If TypeOf Ctl1 Is TextBox Then
                    Ctl1.Text = ""
                End If
            Next
        End If
    Next
End Sub

add this code in form and call this function

EmptyTxt(Me)

Solution 5

Clear() set the Text property to nothing. So txtbox1.Text = Nothing does the same thing as clear. An empty string (also available through String.Empty) is not a null reference, but has no value of course.

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Comments

[Konrad Rudolph]

The documentation isn’t definite on this so I wouldn’t rely on this behaviour remaining unchanged.

[Konrad Rudolph]

It looks like somebody at Microsoft had a bad day that day. This looks weird. +1 for digging it out. –1 for Microsoft for crappy documentation (“Clears all the content from the text box” – really?) and weird code.

[William Mc]

Thanks very much. Very impressed with the speed of responses. Thanks again!

[SLaks]

@Konrad: Well, it does. What do you have against the documentation?

[William Mc]

Hey guys! I can't accept and check an answer at the moment as, like i said, i am new to programming and still a little unsure about what is going on deep behind the scenes of the code you have all shown me other than clearing the text within the textbox on the form interface. I will defo be digging into my tutor for how these methods tie in with checking null references then i'll come back and rate an answer. Thanks again :)

[SLaks]

@NeverHopeless: That's not sample code; it's the actual source code from the .Net framework, which is written in C#.

[NeverHopeless]

@SLaks from sample i mean the piece of code, I didn't say this apsuedocode. I know your code and code in question both are .Net framework's code. But it was supposed to be in VB.Net.

[Steve]

Why only two? Let's go with a third one Control.ResetText :-)