Avoid using empty interface definitions.

Remarks

You should not define an interface without adding code. Interfaces should be used to denote contracts (or provide additional behavior for a class) not just to mark a class. An empty interface does not provide any additional behavior for a class. For example,

    Public Interface IsEditable
        ' This is an empty interface, used simply to mark a class.
    End Interface

    Public Class MyFile
        Implements IsEditable
        ' Some code here
    End Class

Resolution

If you need to provide additional behavior for a class, you should add code to the interface. If you are simply using the interface to mark a class (or provide information rather than behavior), you should use an attribute instead. For instance, you could modify the example above to use an attribute:

Public Class IsEditable
    Inherits Attribute
End Class

<IsEditable()> _
Public Class MyFile
    ' Some code here
End Class

See Also