Visual Basic® .NET Power Coding

Marshaling Objects by Reference

Remoting handles data between client and server in two ways: (1) marshaling the data by reference and (2) marshaling the data by value. Marshaling by reference is analogous to having a pointer, and marshaling by value is analogous to having a copy. If we change a reference object, the original is changed, and changes to a copy have no effect on the original. To get your feet wet let's start with a quick marshal-by-reference example. (The Marshaling Objects by Value section later in this chapter talks about the other way data is moved back and forth.)

NOTE Occasionally I will be accused of writing or saying something condescending. That is never my intent. That said, depending on your level of comfort with technical ...