How to Show Asterisk Password in VB.NET

How to Show Asterisk Password in VB.NET

Displaying passwords as plain text instead of asterisks in VB.NET can enhance user experience during applications where the user might need to verify their input. While it's crucial to maintain security practices, there are scenarios where revealing the password temporarily is beneficial.

Understanding Password Display

In many interfaces, when a user enters a password, it is common to see the characters replaced by asterisks or dots. This protects sensitive information from onlookers. In VB.NET, you manage this with the PasswordChar property of the TextBox control.

Basic Implementation

To show the password in a VB.NET application, follow these steps:

1. Create a new Windows Forms Application.
2. Add a TextBox control to the form.
3. Set the PasswordChar property of the TextBox to ''.
4. Implement a button or a checkbox that users can interact with to toggle the visibility of the password.

Here’s a sample code snippet to illustrate:

Private Sub btnTogglePassword_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnTogglePassword.Click
    If txtPassword.PasswordChar = "" Then
        txtPassword.PasswordChar = ""
    Else
        txtPassword.PasswordChar = ""
    End If
End Sub

Security Considerations

Although showing users their password can enhance usability, it's essential to consider the privacy and security implications. Here are a few recommendations:

• Always provide an option to toggle visibility. Don’t show passwords by default.
• Consider implementing a timeout for how long the password is displayed in plain text before reverting to asterisk.
• Ensure that you communicate to users that displaying passwords poses a risk, especially in public settings.

Use Cases

Some common scenarios where revealing the password can be helpful include:

• When users are creating or updating their passwords.
• In forms where verification is critical.
• In applications where users may want to avoid input errors.

Conclusion

Incorporating a feature that shows asterisk passwords in a VB.NET application can improve user experience when executed with careful consideration of security practices. Always provide users with control over their own data.

Glossary of Terms

• PasswordChar: A property of the TextBox used to determine what character is displayed for password entries.
• Toggle: To switch between two states.
• VB.NET: A programming language developed by Microsoft for Windows applications.

Pro Tips

• Always prompt the user about security when displaying their password.
• Implement visual cues to indicate when a password is being displayed.
• Use SSL protocols to enhance overall security for applications that handle sensitive information.

Toggle Password Visibility in VB.NET

Update: 07 Oct 2025