Visual Basic (VB) is considered a relatively easy to learn and use programming language, because of its graphical development features and basic heritage.
Visual Basic was derived from basic and enables the rapid application development (RAD) of graphical user interface (GUI) applications, access to databases using Data Access Objects DAO, Remote Data Objects RDO, or ActiveX Data Objects ADO, and creation of ActiveX controls and objects.
Scripting languages such as VBA and VBScript are similar to Visual Basic, but are limited in scope.
The final release was version 6 in 1998. Microsoft's extended support ended in March 2008 and the designated successor was VB.Net.