Dim a, b As String
        a = ""
        b = Nothing
        If a = b Then ' this will NOT throw an error even though B is nothing
            Debug.WriteLine("same")
        Else
            Debug.WriteLine("different")
        End If
        If a.Length > 0 Then
            Debug.WriteLine("string a has a length")
        End If
        If b.Length > 0 Then ' this will throw an error because the object is nothing
            Debug.WriteLine("string b has a length")
        End If