Assigning class Instance to Interface: VB.Net

Question

Hello, Have two questions regarding the code below:

1. In the following code, the class Test implement the interface Test_Interafce. I have read in more than one articles that when a class implements an interface, we should assign the class instance to the interface. Going by that in the following code the statement Dim t As New Test() should be replaced by Dim t As Test_Interface = New Test(). However I do not understand the advantage or need for the same. When I instantiate the class Test by simply writing Dim t As New Test(), I am able to access all elements (even the procedures of the interface implemented by the class) through the instance "t" and the code seems to be working fine. So then why to assign a class instance to an interface? Infact if I write Dim t As Test_Interface = New Test() then through "t" does not allow me to access the subroutine CHECK in the class Test. The error being displayed is: "CHECK is not a member of Test_Interface". So isnt that a disadvantage??!!
2. What is the use of the statement: Throw New NotImplementedException(). This statement comes automatically when I implement teh interface in a class/structure. The code is found below: Module Module1
   Interface Test_Interface
   Function Length(ByVal s As String) As Integer
   Sub Details(ByVal age As Integer, ByVal name As String)
   End Interface
   Sub Main()
   Dim t As New Test() 'Alternate definition: Dim t As Test_Interface = New Test()
   t.Details(31, "Mounisha")
   Console.WriteLine("Length of the string entered = {0}", t.Length("Hello"))
   t.check()
   Console.ReadLine()
   End Sub
   End Module
   Class Test
   Implements Test_Interface
   Public Sub Details(age As Integer, name As String) Implements Test_Interface.Details
   Console.WriteLine("Age of person = {0}", age)
   Console.WriteLine("Name of person = {0}", name)
   'Throw New NotImplementedException() ----> what does this do?
   End Sub
   Public Function Length(s As String) As Integer Implements Test_Interface.Length
   Console.WriteLine("Original String: {0}", s)
   Return s.Length()
   'Throw New NotImplementedException()
   End Function
   Sub check()
   Console.WriteLine("The sub can be accessed")
   End Sub
   End Class

Answer 1

One of the advantages of interfaces can be seen in the next example. If you have a definition ‘Dim t As Test_Interface’, then you can initialize t with different kinds of objects:

Dim t As Test_Interface
If SomeCondition Then
   t = New Test()
Else
   t = New Test2()
End If
‘ some code that deals with t
‘ . . .

Therefore, you do not have to re-write the code for Test and Test2; the same code can be reused.

If your CHECK function is characteristic for all of these objects, then maybe add it to interface.

Answer 2

Hi @Sougata Ghosh

Object-oriented programming is characterized by encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism. Dim t As Test_Interface = New Test() is the embodiment of compile-time polymorphism.
Check: VB. NET Polymorphism

Best Regards,
Xingyu Zhao
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Answer 3

Hello,

Visual Studio IDE inserts NotImplementedException by default which indicates the method does nothing and that the developer needs to write code for the method. If not ready at the time of implementing a method for the interface and want to call the method simple delete Throw New NotImplementedException() from the method.

In regards to creating an instance of a class which implements an Interface, you should create the class instance as recommended by Microsoft see this page.

Friend Interface ISampleInterface  
    Sub SampleMethod()  
End Interface  
  
Friend Class ImplementationClass  
    Implements ISampleInterface  
  
    ' Explicit interface member implementation:  
    Private Sub ISampleInterface_SampleMethod() Implements ISampleInterface.SampleMethod  
        ' Method implementation.  
    End Sub  
  
    Shared Sub Main()  
        ' Declare an interface instance.  
        Dim obj As ISampleInterface = New ImplementationClass()  
  
        ' Call the member.  
        obj.SampleMethod()  
    End Sub  
End Class  

Going back to your code. I've modified your code.

• When creating an Interface the naming convention is upper case I as the first character followed by a name where the first character is upper cased.
• Avoid single character variable and parameter names
• Demo how to determine if a object implements an interface and cast to it if it does.

Module Program  
    Sub Main(args As String())  
  
        Dim tester As New Test()  
  
        DoesObjectImplementITestInterface(tester)  
  
        Console.WriteLine($"Length of the string entered = {tester.Length("Hello")}")  
        tester.Check()  
  
        Console.ReadLine()  
  
    End Sub  
    Sub DoesObjectImplementITestInterface(sender As Object)  
  
        If TypeOf sender Is ITestInterface Then  
            Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Yellow  
            CType(sender, ITestInterface).Details(55, "Some name")  
        Else  
            Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Red  
            Console.WriteLine("No")  
        End If  
  
        Console.ResetColor()  
  
    End Sub  
End Module  
Module Module1  
    Interface ITestInterface  
        Function Length(value As String) As Integer  
        Sub Details(age As Integer, ByVal name As String)  
    End Interface  
End Module  
Class Test  
    Implements ITestInterface  
  
    Public Sub Details(age As Integer, name As String) Implements ITestInterface.Details  
        Console.WriteLine($"Age of person = {age}")  
        Console.WriteLine($"Name of person = {name}")  
    End Sub  
  
    Public Function Length(value As String) As Integer Implements ITestInterface.Length  
        Console.WriteLine($"Original String: {value}")  
        Return value.Length()  
    End Function  
  
    Sub Check()  
        Console.WriteLine("The sub can be accessed")  
    End Sub  
  
End Class