Skip to content

andredarcie/csharp-quick-reference-guide

Folders and files

NameName
Last commit message
Last commit date

Latest commit

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Repository files navigation

C# Quick Reference Guide

Discovering csharp through code samples. 😉

Table of Contents

By Version

⬆ back to top

Hello World

[Run example]

using System;
namespace HelloWorldApplication
{
   class HelloWorld
   {
      static void Main(string[] args)
      {
         Console.WriteLine("Hello World");
      }
   }
}

Top-level statements

[C# 9.0]

System.Console.WriteLine("Hello World");

⬆ back to top

Comments

/* The 
multiline
comments */

// Single-line comments

⬆ back to top

Variables

[Run example] [Oficial docs]

class MainClass {

  // Value type
  enum myEnum { Zero, One };

  static void Main () {

    // Value types
    bool myBool = true; // True or false
    byte myByte = 255; // 0 to 255
    char myChar = 'a'; // U +0000 to U +ffff
    decimal myDecimal = 1m; // 128-bit decimal values       
    double myDouble = 1d; // 64-bit double-precision
    float myFloat = 1f; // 32-bit single-precision
    int myInt = 1; // -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
    long myLong = 1L; // 64-bit signed integer type
    sbyte mySbyte = 1; // -128 to 127                 
    short myShort = 1; // -32,768 to 32,767 
    uint myUint = 1; // 0 to 4,294,967,295           
    ulong myUlong = 1; // 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615
    ushort myUshort = 1; // 0 to 65,535

    // Reference types 
    dynamic myDynamic = 1; // Bypass compile-time type checking 
    object myObject = new myClass();
    string myString = "test";

    // Pointer types
    /*
    unsafe { 
      int* myIntVariable; // Int variable address
    }
    */
  }

  // Reference type
  class myClass { };
  interface myInterface { };
  delegate void myDelegate();
}

⬆ back to top

Type Conversion

Convert.ToBoolean(x);    // Converts a type to a Boolean value
Convert.ToByte(x);       // Converts a type to a byte
Convert.ToChar(x);       // Converts a type to a single Unicode character
Convert.ToDateTime(x);   // Converts a type (integer or string type) to date-time structures
Convert.ToDecimal(x);    // Converts a floating point or integer type to a decimal type
Convert.ToDouble(x);     // Converts a type to a double type
Convert.ToInt16(x);      // Converts a type to a 16-bit integer
Convert.ToInt32(x);      // Converts a type to a 32-bit integer
Convert.ToInt64(x);      // Converts a type to a 64-bit integer
Convert.ToSbyte(x);      // Converts a type to a signed byte type
Convert.ToSingle(x);     // Converts a type to a small floating point number
Convert.ToString(x);     // Converts a type to a string
Convert.ToType(x);       // Converts a type to a specified type
Convert.ToUInt16(x);     // Converts a type to an unsigned int type
Convert.ToUInt32(x);     // Converts a type to an unsigned long type
Convert.ToUInt64(x);     // Converts a type to an unsigned big integer
  • As
SomeType x = y as SomeType;
if (x != null)
{
  // Do something
}

⬆ back to top

Sizeof

// Constant value 4:  
int intSize = sizeof(int); 

⬆ back to top

Operators

  • Arithmetic Operators
x + y   // Adds two operands
x - y   // Subtracts second operand from the first
x * y   // Multiplies both operands
x / y   // Divides numerator by de-numerator
x % y   // Modulus Operator and remainder of after an integer division
x++     // Increment operator increases integer value by one
x--     // Decrement operator decreases integer value by one
  • Relational Operators
(x == y)   // Checks if the values of two operands are equal
(x != y)   // Checks if the values of two operands are equal or not
(x > y)    // Checks if the value of left operand is greater than the value of right operand
(x < y)    // Checks if the value of left operand is less than the value of right operand
(x >= y)   // Checks if the value of left operand is greater than or equal to the value of right operand
(x <= y)   // Checks if the value of left operand is less than or equal to the value of right operand
  • Logical Operators
(x && y)   // Logical AND operator
(x || y)   // Logical OR Operator
!(x || y)  // Logical NOT Operator
using System;

class Fraction
{
    int num, den;
    public Fraction(int num, int den)
    {
        this.num = num;
        this.den = den;
    }

    // overload operator +
    public static Fraction operator +(Fraction a, Fraction b)
    {
        return new Fraction(a.num * b.den + b.num * a.den,
           a.den * b.den);
    }

    // user-defined conversion from Fraction to double
    public static implicit operator double(Fraction f)
    {
        return (double)f.num / f.den;
    }

    static void Main () {
        Fraction x = new Fraction(1, 2);
        Fraction y = new Fraction(3, 4);

        Console.WriteLine ((double)x + y);
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Decision Making

if(boolean_expression)
{
   /* boolean expression is true */
}
if(boolean_expression)
{
   /* boolean expression is true */
}
else
{
   /* expression is false */
}
if(boolean_expression1)
{
   /* boolean expression 1 is true */
}
else if (boolean_expression2)
{
   /* boolean expression 2 is true */
}
else
{
   /* expression 1 and 2 are false */
}
if( boolean_expression1)
{
   /* boolean expression 1 is true */
   if(boolean_expression2)
   {
      /* expression 2 is true */
   }
}
switch(place)
{
   case 1  :
      Console.WriteLine("First!");
      break; 
   case 2  :
      Console.WriteLine("Second!");
      break; 
   default : /* Optional */
      Console.WriteLine("Invalid place!");
      break; 
}

⬆ back to top

Loops

while(condition)
{
   Console.WriteLine("Hello!");
}
for (int x = 0; x < 10; x++)
{
   Console.WriteLine($"value of x: {x}");
}
int x = 0;

do
{
   Console.WriteLine($"value of x: {x}");
   x++;
} 
while (x < 10);
for (int x = 0; x < 10; x++)
{
   for (int y = 0; y < 10; y++) 
   {
      Console.WriteLine($"x: {x}, y: {y}");
   }
}
int x = 0;

while (x < 10)
{
   Console.WriteLine($"value of x: {x}");
   x++;
   if (x > 5)
   {
      /* terminate the loop using break statement */
      break;
   }
}
int x = 0;

do
{
   if (x == 5)
   {
      x++;
      /* skips printing 6 */
      continue;
   }
   x++;
   Console.WriteLine($"value of x: {x}");
}
while (x < 10);
ArrayList numbers = new ArrayList();
numbers.Add(1);
numbers.Add(2);
numbers.Add(3);

Console.WriteLine($"Count: {numbers.Count}");

foreach (int number in numbers)
{
   Console.Write(number + " ");
}

⬆ back to top

Methods

using System;
namespace CalculatorApplication
{
   class Calculator
   {
      public int Sum(int x, int y)
      {
         return x + y;
      }
      static void Main(string[] args)
      {
         var result = Sum(2, 2);
         Console.WriteLine("result: {0}", result);
      }
   }
}

⬆ back to top

Nullables

[C# 2.0]

int? x = null;
int? y = 2;

int? variableName = null;
double? variableName = null;
bool? variableName = null;
int?[] arr = new int?[10];

var z = x ?? 10; // Null Coalescing Operator

⬆ back to top

Arrays

double[] balance = new double[10]; // Initializing an Array
double[] marks = { 1, 2, 3 }; // Assigning Values to an Array

balance[0] = 10;

var first = balance[0];

⬆ back to top

Strings

string name = "John doe";
Console.WriteLine("Name: {0}", name);

⬆ back to top

Structures

struct Books
{
   public string title;
   public string author;
   public string subject;
   public int book_id;
}; 

Books book1;   /* Declare Book1 of type Book */
book1.title = "Csharp Programming";
Console.WriteLine( "Book 1 title : {0}", Book1.title);

Books book2 = new Books() {title = "Hamlet", author = "William Shakespeare", subject = "tragedy", book_id = 1};
Console.WriteLine( "Book 1 title : {0}", Book2.title);

⬆ back to top

Enums

enum Days { Sun, Mon, tue, Wed, thu, Fri, Sat };

Console.WriteLine("Monday: {0}", (int)Days.Mon);

⬆ back to top

Classes

class Person
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Age { get; set; }
    
    public Person(int age, string name)
    {
        Age = age;
        Name = name;
    }

    public int Talk()
    {
        return "Hello!";
    }
}

public class Application
{
    static void Main()
    {
      Person person = new Person("Bill", 42);
      Console.WriteLine("person Name = {0} Age = {1}", person.Name, person.Age);
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Polymorphism

public class Shape
{
    // A few example members
    public int X { get; private set; }
    public int Y { get; private set; }
    public int Height { get; set; }
    public int Width { get; set; }
   
    // Virtual method
    public virtual void Draw()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Performing base class drawing tasks");
    }
}

class Circle : Shape
{
    public override void Draw()
    {
        // Code to draw a circle...
        Console.WriteLine("Drawing a circle");
        base.Draw();
    }
}
class Rectangle : Shape
{
    public override void Draw()
    {
        // Code to draw a rectangle...
        Console.WriteLine("Drawing a rectangle");
        base.Draw();
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Inheritance

class Shape 
{
   public void setWidth(int w)
   {
      width = w;
   }
   public void setHeight(int h)
   {
      height = h;
   }
   protected int width;
   protected int height;
}

// Derived class
class Rectangle: Shape
{
   public int getArea()
   { 
      return (width * height); 
   }
}

⬆ back to top

Abstract

abstract class BaseClass
{
    protected int _x = 100;
    protected int _y = 150;
    public abstract void AbstractMethod();
}

class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public override void AbstractMethod()
    {
        _x++;
        _y++;
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Interface

public interface IPerson
{
    // interface members
    public int Talk();
}

class Person : IPerson
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Age { get; set; }
    
    public Person(int age, string name)
    {
        Age = age;
        Name = name;
    }

    public int Talk()
    {
        return "Hello!";
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Exception Handling

try
{
   // statements causing exception
}
catch( ExceptionName e1 )
{
   // error handling code
}
catch( ExceptionName e2 )
{
   // error handling code
}
catch( ExceptionName eN )
{
   // error handling code
}
finally
{
   // statements to be executed
}
try
  {	
    throw new Exception("Exception 1");
  }
  catch(Exception ex) when(ex.Message == "Exception 2")
  {
    Console.WriteLine("caught Exception 2");
  }
  catch(Exception ex) when(ex.Message == "Exception 1")
  {
    Console.WriteLine("caught Exception 1");
  }

⬆ back to top

Checked and Unchecked

  • Checked
// The following statements are checked by default at compile time. They do not
// compile.
int1 = 2147483647 + 10;
int1 = ConstantMax + 10;

// If the previous sum is attempted in a checked environment, an 
// OverflowException error is raised.

// Checked expression.
Console.WriteLine(checked(2147483647 + ten));
  • Unchecked
// The following statements compile and run.
unchecked
{
   int1 = 2147483647 + 10;
}

⬆ back to top

Delegate

// Declare delegate, defines required signature:
delegate double MathAction(double num);

class DelegateTest
{
    // Regular method that matches signature:
    static double Double(double input)
    {
        return input * 2;
    }

    static void Main()
    {
        // Instantiate delegate with named method:
        MathAction multByTwo = Double;

        // Invoke delegate multByTwo:
        Console.WriteLine(multByTwo(4.5)); // 9

        // Instantiate delegate with anonymous method:
        MathAction square = delegate(double input)
        {
            return input * input;
        };

        Console.WriteLine(square(5)); // 25

        // Instantiate delegate with lambda expression
        MathAction cube = s => s * s * s;

        Console.WriteLine(cube(4.375)); // 83.740234375
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Event

public class SampleEventArgs
{
    public SampleEventArgs(string s) { Text = s; }
    public String Text {get; private set;} // readonly
}
public class Publisher
{
    // Declare the delegate (if using non-generic pattern).
    public delegate void SampleEventHandler(object sender, SampleEventArgs e);

    // Declare the event.
    public event SampleEventHandler SampleEvent;

    // Wrap the event in a protected virtual method
    // to enable derived classes to raise the event.
    protected virtual void RaiseSampleEvent()
    {
        // Raise the event by using the () operator.
        if (SampleEvent != null)
            SampleEvent(this, new SampleEventArgs("Hello"));
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Explicit

// Must be defined inside a class called Fahrenheit:
public static explicit operator Celsius(Fahrenheit fahr)
{
    return new Celsius((5.0f / 9.0f) * (fahr.degrees - 32));
}

Fahrenheit fahr = new Fahrenheit(100.0f);
Console.Write("{0} Fahrenheit", fahr.Degrees);
Celsius c = (Celsius)fahr;

⬆ back to top

Extern

// Used to declare a method that is implemented externally
[DllImport("avifil32.dll")]  
private static extern void AVIFileInit(); 

⬆ back to top

Fixed

class Point 
{ 
   public int x;
   public int y; 
}

// Fixed prevents the garbage collector from relocating a movable variable
// The fixed statement is only permitted in an unsafe context
unsafe static void TestMethod()
{
    // Variable pt is a managed variable, subject to garbage collection.
    Point pt = new Point();

    // Using fixed allows the address of pt members to be taken,
    // and "pins" pt so that it is not relocated.

    fixed (int* p = &pt.x)
    {
        *p = 1;
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Goto

// Transfers the program control directly to a labeled statement
switch (option)
{
   case 1:
       Console.WriteLine("Case 1.");
       break;
   case 2:
       Console.WriteLine("Case 2.");
       goto case 1;
   case 3:
       Console.WriteLine("Case 3.");
       goto case 1;
   default:
       Console.WriteLine("Invalid selection.");
       break;
}

for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
    if (i = 5)
    {
        goto Found;
    }
}

Found:
   Console.WriteLine("Found 5!");

⬆ back to top

Implicit

class Digit
{
    public Digit(double d) { val = d; }
    public double val;
    // ...other members

    // User-defined conversion from Digit to double
    public static implicit operator double(Digit d)
    {
        return d.val;
    }
    //  User-defined conversion from double to Digit
    public static implicit operator Digit(double d)
    {
        return new Digit(d);
    }
}

// Use
// Implicit "double" operator
double num = dig;

// Implicit "Digit" operator
Digit dig2 = 12;

⬆ back to top

Access Modifiers

public // Access is not restricted

protected // Access is limited to the containing class or types derived from the containing class

internal // Access is limited to the current assembly

protected internal // Access is limited to the current assembly or types derived from the containing class

private // Access is limited to the containing type

private protected // Access is limited to the containing class or types derived from the containing class   
// within the current assembly

⬆ back to top

Is

if (obj is Person) { // Checks if an object is compatible with a given type
   // Do something if obj is a Person.
}

⬆ back to top

Lock

class Account  
{  
    decimal balance;  
    private Object thisLock = new Object();  

    public void Withdraw(decimal amount)  
    {  
        lock (thisLock) // Ensures that one thread does not enter a critical section of code 
                        // while another thread is in the critical section.
        {  
            if (amount > balance)  
            {  
                throw new Exception("Insufficient funds");  
            }  
            balance -= amount;  
        }  
    }  
} 

⬆ back to top

Override

abstract class ShapesClass
{
    abstract public int Area(); // Abstract method to override
}
class Square : ShapesClass
{
    int side = 0;
    public Square(int n)
    {
        side = n;
    }
    // Area method is required to avoid
    // a compile-time error.
    public override int Area() // Overridden implementation
    {
        return side * side;
    } 
}

⬆ back to top

Readonly

class Age
{
    readonly int _year;
    Age(int year)
    {
        _year = year;
    }
    void ChangeYear()
    {
        //_year = 1967; // Compile error if uncommented.
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Method Parameters

  • Params
public static void UseParams(params object[] list) // Variable number of arguments.
{
  for (int i = 0; i < list.Length; i++)
  {
      Console.Write(list[i] + " ");
  }
}

UseParams(1, 'a', "test");
  • Ref
class RefExample
{
    static void Method(ref int i)
    {
        i = i + 44;
    }

    static void Main()
    {
        int val = 1;
        Method(ref val);
        Console.WriteLine(val); // 45
    }
}
  • Out [C# 7.0]
    • Parameter modifier
    class OutExample
    {
       static void Method(out int i)
       {
          i = 44;
       }
    
       static void Main()
       {
          int value;
          Method(out value);
          Console.WriteLine(value);     // value is now 44
       }
    }
    • Generic type parameter declarations
    // Covariant interface.
    interface ICovariant<out R> { }
    
    // Extending covariant interface.
    interface IExtCovariant<out R> : ICovariant<R> { }
    
    // Implementing covariant interface.
    class Sample<R> : ICovariant<R> { }
    
    class Program
    {
        static void Test()
        {
            ICovariant<Object> iobj = new Sample<Object>();
            ICovariant<String> istr = new Sample<String>();
    
            // You can assign istr to iobj because
            // the ICovariant interface is covariant.
            iobj = istr;
        }
    }

⬆ back to top

Sealed

class A {}      
sealed class B : A {} // No class can inherit from class B

class X
{
    protected virtual void F() { Console.WriteLine("X.F"); }
    protected virtual void F2() { Console.WriteLine("X.F2"); }
}
class Y : X
{
    sealed protected override void F() { Console.WriteLine("Y.F"); }
    protected override void F2() { Console.WriteLine("Y.F2"); }
}
class Z : Y
{
    // Attempting to override F causes compiler error CS0239.
    // protected override void F() { Console.WriteLine("C.F"); }

    // Overriding F2 is allowed.
    protected override void F2() { Console.WriteLine("Z.F2"); }
}

⬆ back to top

Stackalloc

class Fibonacci
{
    static unsafe void Main() // Unsafe code context
    {
        const int arraySize = 20;
        int* fib = stackalloc int[arraySize]; // Allocate a block of memory on the stack
        int* p = fib;
        // The sequence begins with 1, 1.
        *p++ = *p++ = 1;
        for (int i = 2; i < arraySize; ++i, ++p)
        {
            // Sum the previous two numbers.
            *p = p[-1] + p[-2];
        }
        for (int i = 0; i < arraySize; ++i)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(fib[i]);
        }

        // Keep the console window open in debug mode.
        System.Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.");
        System.Console.ReadKey();
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Static

// Declare a static member, which belongs to the type itself rather than to a specific object. 
static class CompanyEmployee
{
    public static void DoSomething() { /*...*/ }
    public static void DoSomethingElse() { /*...*/  }
}

CompanyEmployee.DoSomething();
CompanyEmployee.DoSomethingElse();

class Employee
{
   public static string name;
}

Employee.name

⬆ back to top

This

// Use to qualify members hidden by similar names
public Employee(string name)
{
    this.name = name;
}

// Use to pass an object as a parameter to other methods
CalcTax(this);

// Use to declare indexers
public int this[int param]
{
    get { return array[param]; }
    set { array[param] = value; }
}

⬆ back to top

Typeof

System.Type type = typeof(int); // System.Int32

⬆ back to top

Unsafe

unsafe static void FastCopy(byte[] src, byte[] dst, int count)  
{  
    // Unsafe context: can use pointers here.  
}  

⬆ back to top

Global using directives

[C# 10.0]

// Inside a file named GlobalUsings.cs
global using System;
global using System.Collections.Generic;

// In another file, it's not necessary to redeclare the usings above
public class TestClass
{
    public void Print(List<int> list)
    {
        foreach (var item in list)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(item);
        }
    }
}

Using static

using static System.Console; // Designates a type whose static members you can
                             // access without specifying a type name. 

class Program 
{ 
    static void Main() 
    { 
        WriteLine("Hello world!"); // Without specifying Console
    } 
}

⬆ back to top

Virtual

class MyBaseClass
{
    // virtual auto-implemented property. Overrides can only
    // provide specialized behavior if they implement get and set accessors.
    public virtual string Name { get; set; }

    // ordinary virtual property with backing field
    private int num;
    public virtual int Number
    {
        get { return num; }
        set { num = value; }
    }
}


class MyDerivedClass : MyBaseClass
{
    private string name;

   // Override auto-implemented property with ordinary property
   // to provide specialized accessor behavior.
    public override string Name
    {
        get
        {
            return name;
        }
        set
        {
            if (value != String.Empty)
            {
                name = value;
            }
            else
            {
                name = "Unknown";
            }
        }
    }

}

⬆ back to top

Volatile

class VolatileTest
{
    public volatile int i; // Indicates that a field might be modified by multiple 
                           // threads that are executing at the same time

    public void Test(int _i)
    {
        i = _i;
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Generics

[C# 2.0]

// Declare the generic class.
public class GenericList<T>
{
    void Add(T input) { }
}
class TestGenericList
{
    private class ExampleClass { }
    static void Main()
    {
        // Declare a list of type int.
        GenericList<int> list1 = new GenericList<int>();

        // Declare a list of type string.
        GenericList<string> list2 = new GenericList<string>();

        // Declare a list of type ExampleClass.
        GenericList<ExampleClass> list3 = new GenericList<ExampleClass>();
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Partial Types

[C# 2.0]

// Declare first partial class
public partial class MyClass
{
    int x;
}

// Declare second partial class
public partial class MyClass
{
    int y;
}

// Declare third partial class
public partial class MyClass
{
    public MyClass()
    {
          this.x = 10;
          this.y = 20;
    }
}

// The three partials will generate just one class after compiled

⬆ back to top

Anonymous methods

[C# 2.0]

// Declare a delegate.
delegate void Printer(string s);

// Instantiate the delegate type using an anonymous method.
Printer p = delegate(string j)
{
   System.Console.WriteLine(j);
};

// Results from the anonymous delegate call.
p("The delegate using the anonymous method is called.");

// Output: The delegate using the anonymous method is called.

⬆ back to top

Iterators

[C# 2.0]

// Iterator can be used to step through collections such as lists and arrays
class Department
{
   private List<Employees> _employees;
   
   public IEnumerator<Employees> GetEnumerator()
   {
      foreach (Employees emp in _employees)
      yield return emp;
   }
}

static void Main(string[] args)
{
   Department dept = new Department("MyDepartment");
   foreach (Employees emp in dept)
   {
      //...
   }
}

⬆ back to top

Getter and setter separate accessibility

[C# 2.0]

class Customer
{ // Different accessibility on get and set accessors using accessor-modifier
   public string Name { get; protected set; }
}

⬆ back to top

Method group conversions

[C# 2.0]

// suppose we have a method called RemoveSpaces(string s) and a delegate called Del
// to assign a method to the delegate:
Del d = RemoveSpaces;

Covariance and Contravariance for delegates

[C# 2.0]

static object GetObject() { return null; }
static void SetObject(object obj) { }

static string GetString() { return “”; }
static void SetString(string str) { }

// Covariance. A delegate specifies a return type as object,
// but I can assign a method that returns a string.
Func<object> del = GetString;

// Contravariance. A delegate specifies a parameter type as string,
// but I can assign a method that takes an object.
Action<string> del2 = SetObject;

⬆ back to top

Delegate inference

[C# 2.0]

//create a delegate instance without the new keyword part
delegate void SomeAction();
SomeAction newStyle = SayHello;

⬆ back to top

Implicitly typed local variables

[C# 3.0]

// compiled as an int
var foo = 5;

// compiled as a string
var foo = "Hello";

// compiled as int[]
var foo = new[] { 0, 1, 2 };

// expr is compiled as IEnumerable<Customer> or perhaps IQueryable<Customer>
var foo =
    from c in customers
    where c.City == "London"
    select c;

// compiled as an anonymous type
var foo = new { Name = "Terry", Age = 34 };

// compiled as List<int>                             
var foo = new List<int>();

⬆ back to top

Object and collection initializers

[C# 3.0]

// Object initializer
class Customer
{
   public string Name { get; set; }
   public int Age { get; set; } 
}

Customer foo = new Customer { Name = "Spock", Age = 21 };

// Anonymous object initializer
var bar = new  { Name = "Spock", Age = 21 }; 

// Collection initializer
List<Customer> foos = new List<Customer>
{
    new Customer { Name = "John", Age = 21 };
    new Customer { Name = "Ringo", Age = 32 };
    new Customer { Name = "Paul", Age = 43 };
};

⬆ back to top

Auto-Implemented properties

[C# 3.0]

class Customer
{
    // Auto-Implemented properties for trivial get and set 
   public int CustomerID { get; set; }
   public string Name { get; set; }   
}

⬆ back to top

Anonymous Types

[C# 3.0]

// Anonymous types provide a convenient way to encapsulate a set of read-only 
// properties into a single object without having to explicitly define a type first

var v = new { Amount = 108, Message = "Hello" };  
Console.WriteLine(v.Amount + v.Message);  

// Anonymous types typically are used in the select clause of a query expression 
// to return a subset of the properties from each object in the source sequence

var productQuery = 
    from prod in products
    select new { prod.Color, prod.Price };

⬆ back to top

Extension Methods

[C# 3.0]

// Extension methods enable you to "add" methods to existing types without 
// creating a new derived type, recompiling, or otherwise modifying the original type

namespace ExtensionMethods
{
    public static class MyExtensions
    {
        public static int WordCount(this String str)
        {
            return str.Split(new char[] { ' ', '.', '?' }, 
                             StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries).Length;
        }
    }   
}

string s = "Hello Extension Methods"; 
// Extension methods are defined as static methods but are called by using instance method syntax
int i = s.WordCount();  

⬆ back to top

Lambda expressions

[C# 3.0]

// A lambda expression is an anonymous function that you
// can use to create delegates or expression tree types.
delegate int del(int i);
static void Main(string[] args)
{
    del myDelegate = x => x * x;
    int j = myDelegate(5); //j = 25
    
    Expression<del> myET = x => x * x;
}

⬆ back to top

Expression trees

[C# 3.0]

// Create an expression using expression lambda
Expression<Func<int, int, int>> expression = (num1, num2) => num1 + num2;
 
// Compile the expression
Func<int, int, int> compiledExpression = expression.Compile();
 
// Execute the expression. 
int result = compiledExpression(3, 4); //return 7

⬆ back to top

Partial methods

[C# 3.0]

 partial class MyClass
 {
     partial void OnSomethingHappened(string s);
 }

 // This part can be in a separate file.
 partial class MyClass
 {
     // Comment out this method and the program
     // will still compile.
     partial void OnSomethingHappened(String s)
     {
         Console.WriteLine("Something happened: {0}", s);
     }
 }

⬆ back to top

Query expressions

[C# 3.0]

// A query is a set of instructions that describes what data to retrieve from a given 
// data source (or sources) and what shape and organization the returned data should have.

// Data source.
int[] scores = { 90, 71, 82, 93, 75, 82 };

// Query Expression.
IEnumerable<int> scoreQuery = //query variable
  from score in scores //required
  where score > 80 // optional
  orderby score descending // optional
  select score; //must end with select or group

// Execute the query to produce the results
foreach (int testScore in scoreQuery)
{
  Console.WriteLine(testScore);
}                  

⬆ back to top

Dynamic binding

[C# 4.0]

// Dynamic binding refers to delaying the process of type resolution from compile time to runtime.

// Static binding
Person obj = new Person();
obj.Run(); // Compiler will try to find a method named Run
           // If not found the compiler will generate an error

// Dynamic binding
dynamic obj = new Person();
obj.Run(); // Resolves binding on runtime instead of compile time.

⬆ back to top

Named and optional arguments

[C# 4.0]

 // Example method
 public static int Sum(int firstNumber, int secondNumber = 1)  
{  
    return firstNumber+ secondNumber;  
}

// Passing parameters using the normal way
Sum(10, 20);

// Passing parameters using named parameter
Sum(firstNumber: 10, secondNumber: 20);

// Passing parameters using default value
Sum(10);

// Example method using optional parameters
public int Sum(int firstNumber, [Optional] int secondNumber)  
{  
   return firstNumber + secondNumber;  
} 

// Example method using params keyword
public int Sum(int firstNumber, params int[] numbers)  
{  
   int total = 0;  
   foreach (int number in numbers)  
   {  
       number += number;  
   }  
   return total + firstNumber;  
} 

⬆ back to top

Generic co and contravariance

[C# 4.0]

  • Covariance
// Enables you to use a more derived type than originally specified
IEnumerable<Derived> d = new List<Derived>();
IEnumerable<Base> b = d;
  • Contravariance
// Enables you to use a more generic (less derived) type than originally specified
Action<Base> b = (target) => { Console.WriteLine(target.GetType().Name); };
Action<Derived> d = b;
d(new Derived());

⬆ back to top

Caller info attributes

[C# 5.0]

public void DoProcessing()  
{  
    TraceMessage("Something happened.");  
}  

public void TraceMessage(string message,  
        [CallerMemberName] string memberName = "",  
        [CallerFilePath] string sourceFilePath = "",  
        [CallerLineNumber] int sourceLineNumber = 0)  
{  
    Trace.WriteLine("message: " + message); // message: Something happened
    Trace.WriteLine("member name: " + memberName); // member name: DoProcessing  
    Trace.WriteLine("file path: " + sourceFilePath); // file path: c:\Users\username\Documents\Form1.cs 
    Trace.WriteLine("source line number: " + sourceLineNumber); // source line number: 31   
}  

⬆ back to top

Asynchronous methods

[C# 5.0]

// For I/O-bound code, you await an operation which returns a Task or Task<T> inside of an async method.
private readonly HttpClient _httpClient = new HttpClient();

downloadButton.Clicked += async (o, e) =>
{
    // This line will yield control to the UI as the request
    // from the web service is happening.
    //
    // The UI thread is now free to perform other work.
    var stringData = await _httpClient.GetStringAsync(URL);
    DoSomethingWithData(stringData);
};

// For CPU-bound code, you await an operation which is started on a background thread with the Task.Run method.
private DamageResult CalculateDamageDone()
{
    // Code omitted:
    //
    // Does an expensive calculation and returns
    // the result of that calculation.
}


calculateButton.Clicked += async (o, e) =>
{
    // This line will yield control to the UI while CalculateDamageDone()
    // performs its work.  The UI thread is free to perform other work.
    var damageResult = await Task.Run(() => CalculateDamageDone());
    DisplayDamage(damageResult);
};

⬆ back to top

Compiler as a service Roslyn

[C# 6.0]

// Roslyn provides open-source C# and Visual Basic compilers with rich code analysis APIs.

const string programText =
@"using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
 
namespace HelloWorld
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(""Hello, World!"");
        }
    }
}";

// Syntax analysis traversing trees
// Build the syntax tree
SyntaxTree tree = CSharpSyntaxTree.ParseText(programText);
CompilationUnitSyntax root = tree.GetCompilationUnitRoot(); // Retrieve the root node of that tree

// Examine the nodes in the tree.
WriteLine($"The tree is a {root.Kind()} node.");
WriteLine($"The tree has {root.Members.Count} elements in it.");
WriteLine($"The tree has {root.Usings.Count} using statements. They are:");
foreach (UsingDirectiveSyntax element in root.Usings)
    WriteLine($"\t{element.Name}");
    
// Semantic analysis Querying symbols
var compilation = CSharpCompilation.Create("HelloWorld")
    .AddReferences(MetadataReference.CreateFromFile(
        typeof(string).Assembly.Location))
    .AddSyntaxTrees(tree);

// Querying the semantic model
SemanticModel model = compilation.GetSemanticModel(tree);

// Use the syntax tree to find "using System;"
UsingDirectiveSyntax usingSystem = root.Usings[0];
NameSyntax systemName = usingSystem.Name;

// Use the semantic model for symbol information:
SymbolInfo nameInfo = model.GetSymbolInfo(systemName);

⬆ back to top

Import of static type members into namespace

[C# 6.0]

// Without using static 
using System;
Math.PI

// Using static directive designates a type whose static members you can access without specifying a type name.
using static System.Math;
Math.PI

⬆ back to top

Await in catch finally blocks

[C# 6.0]

try
{
  await ThatMayThrowAsync();
}
catch (ExpectedException ex)
{
  await Logger.LogAsync(ex);
}

⬆ back to top

Auto property initializers

[C# 6.0]

public decimal Price { get; set; } = 0.50m;
public string Name { get; set; } = "John";

⬆ back to top

Nameof operator

[C# 6.0]

class Person {
   public string Name { get; set; }
}

var person = new Person();
		
int number = 0;
string text = "lorem ipsum";
Console.WriteLine(nameof(number)); // number
Console.WriteLine(nameof(text)); // text
Console.WriteLine(nameof(person.Name)); // Name

⬆ back to top

String interpolation

[C# 6.0]

Console.WriteLine($"Hello, {name}! Today is {date.DayOfWeek}, it's {date:HH:mm} now.");

⬆ back to top

Expression-bodied members

[C# 6.0]

class Person {
  public string FirstName { get; set; }
  public string LastName { get; set; }
  public string GetFullName() => FirstName + " " + LastName;
}

var person = new Person();
person.FirstName = "John";
person.LastName = "Doe";
Console.WriteLine(person.GetFullName());

⬆ back to top

Dictionary initializer

[C# 6.0]

var dictionary = new Dictionary<string, int>
{
    ["one"] = 1,
    ["two"] = 2,
    ["three"] = 3
};

⬆ back to top

Null propagator (null-conditional operator, succinct null checking)

[C# 6.0]

int? length = customers?.Length; // null if customers is null   
Customer first = customers?[0];  // null if customers is null  
int? count = customers?[0]?.Orders?.Count();  // null if customers, the first customer, or Orders is null  

⬆ back to top

Default values for getter only properties

[C# 6.0]

public class Dog
{
    public string Name { get; set; }

    // DogCreationTime is immutable
    public DateTime DogCreationTime { get; } = DateTime.Now;

    public Dog(string name)
    {
        Name = name;
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Pattern Matching

[C# 7.0] [Oficial docs]

Patterns test that a value has a certain shape, and can extract information from the value when it has the matching shape.

public static void SwitchPattern(object o)
{
    switch (o)
    {
        case null:
            Console.WriteLine("it's a constant pattern");
            break;
        case int i:
            Console.WriteLine("it's an int");
            break;
        case Person p when p.FirstName.StartsWith("A"):
            Console.WriteLine($"a A person {p.FirstName}");
            break;
        case Person p:
            Console.WriteLine($"any other person {p.FirstName}");
            break;
        case var x:
            Console.WriteLine($"it's a var pattern with the type {x?.GetType().Name} ");
            break;
        default:
            break;
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Tuples

[C# 7.0] [Oficial docs]

Tuples are lightweight data structures that contain multiple fields to represent the data members.

// You can create a tuple by assigning a value to each member
(string Alpha, string Beta) namedLetters = ("a", "b");
Console.WriteLine($"{namedLetters.Alpha}, {namedLetters.Beta}");

// You can also specify the names of the fields on the right-hand side of the assignment
var alphabetStart = (Alpha: "a", Beta: "b");
Console.WriteLine($"{alphabetStart.Alpha}, {alphabetStart.Beta}");

Deconstruction

// There may be times when you want to unpackage the members of a tuple that were returned from a method
(int max, int min) = Range(numbers);
Console.WriteLine(max);
Console.WriteLine(min);

⬆ back to top

Local functions

[C# 7.0] [Oficial docs]

Local functions enable you to declare methods inside the context of another method.

public static void Main()
{
    Console.WriteLine(Sum(1,1));
}

public static string Sum(int x, int y) {
    return DisplayResult(x + y);

    string DisplayResult(int result) {
        return result.ToString();
    }
}

⬆ back to top

Record types

[C# 9.0] [Oficial docs]

You use the record keyword to define a reference type that provides built-in functionality for encapsulating data.

public record Person(string FirstName, string LastName);

public static void Main()
{
    Person person = new("Nancy", "Davolio");
    Console.WriteLine(person);
    // output: Person { FirstName = Nancy, LastName = Davolio }
}

Record structs

[C# 10.0]

public record struct Point(int X, int Y);

public static void Main()
{
    var p1 = new Point(1, 2);
    var p2 = new Point(1, 2);
    Console.WriteLine(p1 == p2); // output: True
}

⬆ back to top

Init Only Setters

[C# 9.0] [Oficial docs]

Init only setters provide consistent syntax to initialize members of an object.

public struct Person
{
    public string Name { get; init; }
}

var nancy = new Person 
{ 
    Name = "nancy", 
};

// An attempt to change a property after initialization results in a compiler error
// Error! CS8852.
nancy.Name = "Davolio";

Generic Collections

[Oficial docs]

Contains interfaces and classes that define generic collections, which allow users to create strongly typed collections that provide better type safety and performance than non-generic strongly typed collections.

Dictionary

Represents a collection of keys and values.

// Dictionary<TKey,TValue> Class
// TKey - The type of the keys in the dictionary.
// TValue - The type of the values in the dictionary.

Dictionary<int, string> numbers = new Dictionary<int, string>();
numbers.Add(1, "One");
numbers.Add(2, "Two");

Console.WriteLine(numbers[2]); // Two

⬆ back to top

HashSet

A set is a collection that contains no duplicate elements, and whose elements are in no particular order.

List<int> duplicateNumbers = new List<int>() { 2, 2, 4, 6 };

var nonDuplicatedNumbers = new HashSet<int>(duplicateNumbers);

foreach (int number in nonDuplicatedNumbers)
    Console.WriteLine(" {0}", number); // 2 4 6

⬆ back to top

LinkedList

Is a general-purpose linked list.

string[] fruits = { "apple", "orange", "lemon", "pear" };
LinkedList<string> words = new LinkedList<string>(fruits);

foreach (string word in words)
    Console.WriteLine($" {word}"); // apple orange lemon pear

words.RemoveFirst();
words.RemoveLast();

foreach (string word in words)
    Console.WriteLine($" {word}"); // orange lemon

Console.WriteLine($"{words.First?.Value}, {words.Last?.Value}"); // orange, lemon

Console.WriteLine($"{words.First?.Next?.Value}"); // lemon

⬆ back to top

Keywords

abstract       // Indicates that the thing being modified has a missing or incomplete implementation
as             // Performs certain types of conversions between compatible reference types or nullable type
base           // Access members of the base class from within a derived class
bool           // Used to declare variables to store the Boolean values, true and false
break          // Terminates the closest enclosing loop or switch statement in which it appears
byte           // Denotes an integral type
case           // Chooses a single switch section to execute from a list of candidates based on a pattern match
catch          // Specify handlers for different exceptions
char           // Represent a Unicode character
checked        // Used to explicitly enable overflow checking for integral-type arithmetic 
               // operations and conversions
class          // Create your own custom types by grouping together variables of other types, methods and events
const          // Declare a constant field or a constant local
continue       // Passes control to the next iteration
decimal        // Indicates a 128-bit data type
default        // Can be used in the switch statement or in a default value expression
delegate       // Type that can be used to encapsulate a named or an anonymous method
do             // Executes a statement or a block of statements repeatedly until 
               // a specified expression evaluates to false
double         // Simple type that stores 64-bit floating-point values
else           // Identifies which statement to run based on the value of a Boolean expression
enum           // Distinct type that consists of a set of named constants called the enumerator list
event          // Used to declare an event in a publisher class
explicit       // User-defined type conversion operator that must be invoked with a cast
extern         // Modifier is used to declare a method that is implemented externally
false          // Represents boolean false
finally        // Can clean up any resources that are allocated in a try block
fixed          // Prevents the garbage collector from relocating a movable variable
float          // Signifies a simple type that stores 32-bit floating-point values
for            // Run a statement or a block of statements repeatedly until 
               // a specified expression evaluates to false
foreach, in    // Repeats a group of embedded statements for each element in an array or an object collection 
goto           // Transfers the program control directly to a labeled statement
if             // Identifies which statement to run based on the value of a Boolean expression
implicit       // Used to declare an implicit user-defined type conversion operator
in             // (generic modifier) specifies that the type parameter is contravariant
int            // Denotes an integral type
interface      // Contains only the signatures of methods, properties, events or indexers
internal       // Access modifier fortypes or members are accessible only within files in the same assembly
is             // Checks if an object is compatible with a given type
lock           // Marks a statement block as a critical section by obtaining the mutual-exclusion lock 
               // for a given object, executing a statement, and then releasing the lock
long           // Denotes an integral type
namespace      // Keyword is used to declare a scope that contains a set of related objects
new            // Keyword can be used as an operator, a modifier, or a constraint
               // Operator - create objects and invoke constructors
               // Modifier - hide an inherited member from a base class member
               // Constraint - restrict types that might be used as arguments for a type parameter 
               //              in a generic declaration
null           // Is a literal that represents a null reference, one that does not refer to any object
object         // All types, predefined and user-defined, reference types and value types, inherit 
               // directly or indirectly from Object
operator       // To overload a built-in operator or to provide a user-defined conversion in a class
               // or struct declaration.
out            // As a parameter modifier, which lets you pass an argument to a method by reference 
               // rather than by value.
               // Generic type parameter declarations for interfaces and delegates, which specifies that a type 
               // parameter is covariant
out            // (generic modifier) Enables you to use a more derived type than that specified 
               // by the generic parameter
override       // Modifier is required to extend or modify the abstract or virtual implementation of 
               // an inherited method, property, indexer, or event
params         // You can specify a method parameter that takes a variable number of arguments
private        // Is a member access modifier the least permissive access level
protected      // Is a member access modifier accessible within its class and by derived class instances
public         // Is an access modifier for types and type members, the most permissive access level
readonly       // Assignments can only occur as part of the declaration or in a constructor in the same class
ref            // Indicates a value that is passed by reference
return         // Terminates execution of the method in which it appears and returns control to the calling method
sbyte          // An integral type, signed 8-bit integer
sealed         // Prevents other classes from inheriting from it
short          // An integral type, signed 16-bit integer
sizeof         // Obtain the size in bytes for an unmanaged type
stackalloc     // Is used in an unsafe code context to allocate a block of memory on the stack
static         // Modifier to declare a static member, which belongs to the type itself rather than 
               // to a specific object
string         // Represents a sequence of zero or more Unicode characters
struct         // Is a value type that is typically used to encapsulate small groups of related variables
switch         // Is a selection statement that chooses a single switch section to execute from a 
               // list of candidates based on a pattern match with the match expression
this           // Refers to the current instance of the class and is also used as a modifier of 
               // the first parameter of an extension method
throw          // Signals the occurrence of an exception during program execution
true           // Represents the boolean value true
try            // Is followed by one or more catch clauses, which specify handlers for different exceptions
typeof         // Used to obtain the System.Type object for a type
uint           // An integral type, unsigned 32-bit integer
ulong          // Denotes an integral type, unsigned 64-bit integer
unchecked      // Is used to suppress overflow-checking for integral-type arithmetic operations and conversions
unsafe         // Denotes an unsafe context, which is required for any operation involving pointers
ushort         // An integral type, unsigned 16-bit integer
using          // As a directive, when it is used to create an alias for a namespace or to import types 
               // defined in other namespace. As a statement, when it defines a scope at the end of which 
               // an object will be disposed
using static   // Designates a type whose static members you can access without specifying a type name
virtual        // Is used to modify a method, property, indexer, or event declaration and allow for it to 
               // be overridden in a derived class
void           // Specifies that the method doesn't return a value.
volatile       // Indicates that a field might be modified by multiple threads that are executing at the same time
while          // Executes a statement or a block of statements until a specified expression evaluates to false

⬆ back to top

Contextual Keywords

add            // Define a custom event accessor that is invoked when client code subscribes to your event
alias          // Reference two versions of assemblies that have the same fully-qualified type names
ascending      // Used in the orderby clause in query expressions to specify that the sort order is from smallest to largest
async          // Specify that a method, lambda expression, or anonymous method is asynchronous
await          // Applied to a task in an asynchronous method to insert a suspension point in the execution of the method until the
               // awaited task completes
descending     // Used in the orderby clause in query expressions to specify that the sort order is from largest to smallest
dynamic        // Enables the operations in which it occurs to bypass compile-time type checking
from           // A query expression must begin with a from clause
get            // Defines an accessor method in a property or indexer that returns the property value or the indexer element
global         // Refers to the global namespace
group          // Sequence of IGrouping<TKey,TElement> objects that contain zero or more items that match the key value for the group
into           // Used to create a temporary identifier to store the results of a group, join or select clause into a new identifier
join           // Useful for associating elements from different source sequences that have no direct relationship in the object model
let            // Useful to store the result of a sub-expression in order to use it in subsequent clauses
nameof         // Used to obtain the simple (unqualified) string name of a variable, type, or member
orderby        // Causes the returned sequence or subsequence (group) to be sorted in either ascending or descending order
partial        // (type) Allow for the definition of a class, struct, or interface to be split into multiple files
partial        // (method) A partial method has its signature defined in one part of a partial type, and its implementation defined in
               // another part of the type
remove         // Used to define a custom event accessor that is invoked when client code unsubscribes from your event
select         // Specifies the type of values that will be produced when the query is executed
set            // Accessor method in a property or indexer that assigns a value to the property or the indexer element
value          // Used in the set accessor in ordinary property declarations.
var            // Variables that are declared at method scope can have an implicit "type" var
when           // Used as catch statement of a try/catch or try/catch/finally block or label of a switch statement
where          // (generic type constraint) Specify constraints on the types that can be used as arguments for a type parameter defined
               // in a generic declaration
where          // Specify which elements from the data source will be returned in the query expression
yield          // You indicate that the method, operator, or get accessor in which it appears is an iterator

⬆ back to top

Contributing

Feel free to open tickets or send pull requests with improvements. Thanks in advance for your help!

How to Contribute?

Just follow the contribution guidelines.

License

The andredarcie/csharp-guide is available as open source under the terms of the MIT License.

About

C# simple guide - Discovering csharp through code samples.

Topics

Resources

License

Stars

Watchers

Forks

Releases

No releases published

Packages

No packages published

Languages