The VB.NET TypeName function will return the name of a control as a string. The typeof operator allows you to compare an unknown type with a known type. Both are shown here:
Private Sub Form1_Load(...) Handles MyBase.Load
MessageBox.Show(TypeName(cboStart))
If (TypeOf (cboStart) Is ComboBox) Then
MessageBox.Show("It's a combo box all right...")
End If
End Sub
This was first published in December 2002