Access Modifiers Comparison in Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET)

Keywords that specify access level are called as Access Modifers (e.g., Private, Public, Friend etc). Comparison of access levels of different keywords is given below:

Access modifier	Access level granted	Elements you can declare with this access level	Declaration context within which you can use this modifier
public	Unrestricted: Any code that can see a public element can access it	Interfaces Modules Classes Structures Structure members Procedures Properties Member variables Constants Enumerations Events External declarations Delegates	Source file Namespace Interface Module Class Structure
protected	Derivational: Code in the class that declares a protected element, or a class derived from it, can access the element	Interfaces Classes Structures Procedures Properties Member variables Constants Enumerations Events External declarations Delegates	Class
internal	Assembly: Code in the assembly that declares an Internal element can access it	Interfaces Modules Classes Structures Structure members Procedures Properties Member variables Constants Enumerations Events External declarations Delegates	Source file Namespace Interface Module Class Structure
protectedinternal	Union of Protected and Internal: Code in the same class or the same assembly as a protected Internal element, or within any class derived from the element's class, can access it The protectedinternal accessibility means protected OR internal, not protected AND internal. In other words, a protectedinternal member is accessible from any class in the same assembly, including derived classes. To limit accessibility to only derived classes in the same assembly, declare the class itself internal, and declare its members as protected.	Interfaces Classes Structures Procedures Properties Member variables Constants Enumerations Events External declarations Delegates	Class
private	Declaration context: Code in the type that declares a private element, including code within contained types, can access the element	Interfaces Classes Structures Structure members Procedures Properties Member variables Constants Enumerations Events External declarations Delegates