What is Visual Basic?

Visual Basic is the programming language and development environment that Microsoft created in 1991 to augment its original BASIC programming language for the Windows operating system. The launch of Visual Basic was an extraordinary step for computer programming. Within Visual Basic is a graphical user interface GUI. This innovation launched a new wave of drag and drop programming, which immensely helped developers to create software products, instead of only writing code manually. Its entrance into the software scene helped to lead developers into designing software applications more efficiently and simply for PC-based software and internet applications. As of 2020, Microsoft was still supporting some of the application types to help developers migrate code, but it's no longer evolving Visual Basic as a language.

Why is it important to learn Visual Basic?

It's important to learn Visual Basic because learning how to write code using it can help you think logically to solve problems. Plus, its basic precepts are still used today in some Microsoft and PC-based software applications, even though it's a legacy programming language. Programs created with Visual Basic can be configured to run on Windows, within Microsoft's Office applications, on web apps, and on mobile devices. More importantly, Visual Basic is usually available online to help beginning developers to use as a starter software application.

What are typical careers that use Visual Basic?

Typical careers that use Visual Basic include software engineers, application developers, and systems developers who work for organizations that use legacy software like healthcare organizations and hospitals. Visual Basic is still used by developers as it's easy to learn and put into place for small and medium-sized businesses. You can put your understanding of Visual basic fundamentals to work right away as a software developer. However, as software development continues to evolve with the advent of cloud applications and machine learning, Visual Basic is less popular today with most programmers, who have moved onto languages like Python, SQL, and Java.

How can taking online courses teach me about Visual Basic?

When you take online courses about Visual Basic, you can gain a fundamental understanding of this programming language, and how to write simple code in software applications. Taking online courses about Visual Basic can also introduce you to the more recent versions of the software, like Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), which helps new developers learn how to code for applications and spreadsheet use. Much of that knowledge is relevant for programming development that's still in use today.

What are the benefits of taking an online Visual Basic course?

Online Visual Basic courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Visual Basic skills. Choose from a wide range of Visual Basic courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Visual Basic courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Visual Basic, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Visual Basic Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Visual Basic Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
Microsoft Excel VBA and Macros
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Excel Formulas, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Productivity Software, Data Transformation, Debugging, Spreadsheet Software, Data Cleansing, Automation, Strategic Decision-Making, Programming Principles
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
199 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
LearnQuest
Introduction to Computer Programming with Visual Basic
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Database Management, System Software, Databases, Relational Databases, Algorithms, Computer Architecture, Network Security, Computer Hardware, SQL, Computer Science, Development Environment, Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Program Development, Computer Programming, Data Modeling, Microsoft Development Tools
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
167 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Microsoft Excel, Problem Solving, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Scripting, Spreadsheet Software, Simulations, Algorithms, UI Components, Scripting Languages, Debugging, Data Management, User Interface (UI), Data Cleansing, Automation, Data Validation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
LearnQuest
Introduction to Visual Basic Programming
Skills you'll gain: Visual Basic (Programming Language), Development Environment, Program Development, Microsoft Development Tools, .NET Framework, Data Storage, Computer Programming, Software Development, Computational Logic, Cross Platform Development, Command-Line Interface, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
51 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365, Productivity Software, Data Import/Export, Data Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving, Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Programming Principles, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Data Structures, Computer Programming, Spreadsheet Software, Problem Solving, Automation, Algorithms, Scripting Languages, Debugging, Data Management, Data Cleansing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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Status: Free Trial
LearnQuest
Visual Basic Programming: Classes and Collections
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Design, Data Modeling, Microsoft Visual Studio, Program Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), .NET Framework, Computer Programming
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Transitioning from Console to WinForms with Source Control
Skills you'll gain: GitHub, C# (Programming Language), Git (Version Control System), .NET Framework, Microsoft SQL Servers, Microsoft Visual Studio, Database Development, Application Development, Query Languages, Event-Driven Programming, Data Validation, Debugging
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Packt
The Ultimate Excel VBA Course - Learn and Master VBA Fast
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Visual Basic (Programming Language), Microsoft Excel, Data Structures, Excel Formulas, Scripting, Programming Principles, Automation, Productivity Software, Scripting Languages, Computational Logic
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
C# Console & Windows Forms with Entity Framework
Skills you'll gain: C# (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Version Control, GitHub, User Accounts, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Microsoft Visual Studio, Git (Version Control System), Debugging, .NET Framework, Microsoft SQL Servers, Object-Relational Mapping, Full-Stack Web Development, Identity and Access Management, Development Environment, Database Management, Database Development, Application Development, Authorization (Computing), Microsoft Windows
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
The Art of Visual Storytelling
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Premiere, Video Production, Videography, Post-Production, Photo/Video Production and Technology, Video Editing, Storyboarding, Storytelling, Adobe Creative Cloud, Media Production, Image Quality, Proposal Development, Editing, Writing, Graphic and Visual Design, Scripting, Multimedia, Creativity, Timelines, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
133 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Preview
Knowledge Accelerators
Microsoft Excel Essentials: Get Started with Workbook Basics
Skills you'll gain: Data Presentation, Data Science, Data Entry, Productivity Software, Microsoft 365, Business Intelligence, Data Manipulation, Business Analytics, Data Management, Organizational Skills, Productivity, Customer Data Management, Record Keeping, Financial Analysis, Marketing Planning, Project Management, Event Planning
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks