String vs [String] in VB.Net

Question

I'm wondering what the difference is when declaring variables as such...

Dim something as String = Nothing

and

Dim something as [String] = String.Empty

Specifically the difference between String and [String].

Answer 1

There is no difference, apart from the fact that the first is Nothing and the second is an empty string.

You use the square brackets([...]) around an identifier in VB.NET to tell the compiler that it should ignore a keyword.

It is often used on Enum:

Dim colors = [Enum].GetValues(GetType(Colors))

since Enum is a keyword and a type. Without the brackets that wouldn't compile.

MSDN:

Regular identifiers may not match keywords, but escaped identifiers can. An escaped identifier is an identifier delimited by square brackets.