Convert a byte array to a string with vb.net

If you need to convert a byte array to a string, you can use the Bitconverter.tostring or Covert.tobase64string method. Below I provide an example of how to use the previous two methods for conversion.

byte array usage

If you are ready to restore text saved in binary format, call the GetString method of the appropriately encoded object in the System.Text namespace.

Using the System.bitconverter class is the quickest way to convert a byte array to a string. This class provides a method for converting between the base data type and the byte array. To use this method, use an overloaded ToString method to accept a byte array as a parameter. In this case, the string includes each hexadecimal-formatted value of the byte array, separated by a dash. There is no way to use strings to undo the conversion automatically and restore the original byte array. See the example in List A.

Listing A

Private Sub convertbytearraytostring () Dim Bttext () as Byte = {0, 100, 200, 255, 5} Dim StrText as String StrText = bitconverter.tostring (Bttext) MessageBox.Show (StrText) End Sub

By using the ToBase64String and Frombase64stirng methods of the System.Convert class, the BASE64 encoding can also be used to convert byte arrays into strings. In BASE64 encoding, each three-byte sequence is converted to four bytes. Each BASE64 encoded character is one of 64 possible values in the domain. See the example in List B.

Listing B

Private Sub convertbytearraytostring () Dim Bttext () as Byte = {0, 100, 200, 255, 5} Dim StrText as String StrText = convert.tobase64string (Bttext) MessageBox.Show (StrText) End Sub

Both of these methods can be used to establish a binary data representation. Remember, in order to restore a byte array to real text information, you must use the correct encoding class.