.NET: ArrayList vs List

Question

What is the difference between ArrayList and List in VB.NET

Answer 1

List is a generic implementation of ArrayList. ArrayList stores all objects as System.Object which you need then cast to appropriate type. ArrayLists are heterogenous, List can store only one type of objects - that type supplied as its generic parameter.

List strList; // can store only strings
List intList; // can store only ints
ArrayList someList; // can store anything