References to Declared Elements

When your code refers to a declared element, the Visual Basic compiler matches the name in your reference to the appropriate declaration of that name. If more than one element is declared with the same name, you can control which of those elements is to be referenced by qualifying its name.

In This Section

• Resolving a Reference When Multiple Variables Have the Same Name
  Discusses how the compiler matches a reference to a declaration.

• How to: Qualify a Declared Element Name
  Explains how to qualify an element name to facilitate a reference match.

• How to: Distinguish Between Two Elements with the Same Name
  Describes how to qualify an element name when calling it to enable the Visual Basic compiler to match your reference to the desired element.

• Shadowing in Visual Basic
  Describes the treatment of elements with the same name.

Related Sections

• Declared Element Names
  Describes how to name elements and use alphabetic case.

• Declared Element Characteristics
  Covers characteristics, such as scope, possessed by declared elements.