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Top 25 C# Interview Questions and Answers

Prepare for your next C# programming interview with our comprehensive guide. This
article provides a collection of common C# interview questions and detailed answers to
help you succeed.

InterviewPrep IT Career Coach

Published Sep 10, 2023

C#, pronounced as “C Sharp,” is a modern, object-oriented programming language

developed by Microsoft. It’s an integral part of the .NET framework and has quickly
gained popularity for its simplicity, expressiveness, and versatility. C# is widely used in
various application domains such as web applications, desktop applications, game
development, and even in building VR applications.

This powerful language combines the best features of C++ and Java while also
incorporating unique elements that make it stand out from other languages. Its strong
typing, automatic garbage collection, scalability, and interoperability with Windows
makes it a preferred choice for many programmers worldwide.

In this article, we have compiled an extensive list of interview questions on C#. These
questions range from basic to advanced level, covering essential topics like data types,
operators, exception handling, inheritance, polymorphism, LINQ, and more. Whether
you’re a novice programmer or an experienced developer looking to brush up your
knowledge, this comprehensive guide will help you ace your upcoming C# technical
interviews.

1. Can you explain the difference between early binding and late
binding in C#?

Early binding in C#, also known as static or compile-time binding, occurs when the type
of an object is determined at compile time. It involves explicit casting and checking types
during compilation, which can enhance performance and error detection.

Late binding, or dynamic or runtime binding, happens when the type of an object is
unknown until runtime. This allows for more flexibility but may lead to runtime errors if
not handled properly.

In early binding, methods are directly called by their names, while in late binding,
methods are invoked using reflection, making it slower than early binding due to
overheads. However, late binding supports polymorphism, allowing a method to have
different implementations based on the object invoking it.

2. What is the role of the Dispose method in C#?

The Dispose method in C# is part of the IDisposable interface. It’s used to free
unmanaged resources like files, database connections, or network resources that .NET
runtime doesn’t automatically manage. This method allows developers to manually
control when these resources are released. Typically, it’s called within a “using” block
which ensures the Dispose method gets invoked even if an exception occurs, providing
deterministic finalization.

3. Can you explain the difference between string, StringBuilder,

and StringBuffer in C#?

In C#, string, StringBuilder and StringBuffer are used to handle text. String is an
immutable object; any modification results in a new instance, leading to memory
inefficiency for extensive manipulations. StringBuilder, on the other hand, is mutable. It
allows modifications without creating new instances, making it more efficient for large-
scale changes. However, StringBuilder isn’t thread-safe, meaning simultaneous
operations can lead to inconsistencies.

StringBuffer doesn’t exist in C#. It’s often confused with Java’s StringBuffer which is similar
to StringBuilder but is thread-safe. In C#, if you need a thread-safe version of
StringBuilder, consider using System.Text.StringBuilder along with lock statements or use
ConcurrentQueue/ConcurrentStack.

4. How does exception handling work in C#? Can you describe

the difference between throw and throw ex?

Exception handling in C# is managed through the use of try, catch, and finally blocks. The
code within a try block is executed first. If an exception occurs, execution is transferred to
the appropriate catch block where the error can be handled. The finally block executes
regardless of whether an exception was thrown, ensuring cleanup operations are always
performed.

The difference between ‘throw’ and ‘throw ex’ lies in how they preserve the stack trace
information. ‘Throw’ rethrows the original exception while preserving the entire stack
trace, making it easier to debug as it maintains the original error context. On the other
hand, ‘throw ex’ creates a new instance of the exception, resetting the stack trace from
that point onwards. This makes debugging more difficult as the original location of the
error is lost.

5. Could you elaborate on how garbage collection works in C#?

How can you force garbage collection if necessary?

Garbage collection in C# is an automatic memory management system that deallocates

objects no longer in use, freeing up memory. It operates on the heap where it identifies
‘garbage’ – objects not accessible by the application. The process involves three
generations (0, 1, and 2) to categorize object lifespan; newly created objects fall into
generation 0 while long-lived ones progress to generation 2.
The garbage collector checks for unreferenced or unreachable objects starting from
generation 0, then 1, and finally 2. This approach optimizes performance as most short-
lived objects are likely already deallocated in earlier generations, reducing the need for
extensive checks in generation 2.

Forcing garbage collection isn’t generally recommended due to its high resource
consumption but can be done using GC.Collect() method. However, this should only be
used when necessary, such as a significant reduction of available physical memory, as it
disrupts application performance.

6. What are generics in C#? Could you provide an example of

how you have used them in a past project?

Generics in C# are a feature that allows you to define type-safe data structures, without
committing to actual data types. This results in better performance by eliminating boxing
and unboxing.

In my past project, I used generics for a repository pattern implementation. Here’s an

example:

public interface IRepository<T> where T : class

{
IEnumerable<T> GetAll();
T GetById(int id);
void Insert(T obj);
void Save();
}

This generic repository can be used with any class type, providing common database
operations without specifying the type until runtime.

7. What is the purpose of the ‘using’ statement in C#? How does it

aid in resource management?

The ‘using’ statement in C# is primarily used for resource management. It ensures that
IDisposable objects are correctly disposed of when they’re no longer needed, which
helps to free up system resources and improve performance. This is achieved by
automatically calling the Dispose method on the object at the end of the using block. The
‘using’ statement simplifies code by eliminating the need for explicit calls to Dispose or a
try/finally block.

8. How can you achieve multiple inheritances in C#?

In C#, multiple inheritance is not directly supported due to potential issues like the
Diamond Problem. However, it can be achieved indirectly using interfaces or
composition.

Interfaces allow for a form of multiple inheritance as a class can implement any number
of interfaces. Each interface represents a contract that the implementing class must fulfill.
For example:

interface IFirst { void MethodA(); }

interface ISecond { void MethodB(); }
 class MyClass : IFirst, ISecond
{
public void MethodA() { /*...*/ }
public void MethodB() { /*...*/ }
}

Composition involves creating instances of other classes within your class and exposing
methods from those instances. This allows you to use functionality from multiple sources
without inheriting from them.

9. Can you explain the difference between an abstract class and

an interface in C#?

An abstract class in C# is a blueprint for other classes, providing both concrete and
abstract methods. It can have fields, properties, constructors, or destructors, but cannot
be instantiated directly. Instead, it must be inherited by another class.

On the other hand, an interface only provides method signatures without

implementation. It doesn’t support fields or constructors and all its members are
implicitly public and abstract. Multiple interfaces can be implemented by a single class,
offering more flexibility than abstract classes.

The choice between them depends on design requirements. If you need to define
default behavior, use an abstract class. For multiple inheritance and loose coupling,
choose an interface.

10. How does the ‘yield’ keyword work in C#? What scenario may
it be useful for?

The ‘yield’ keyword in C# is used within an iterator block to provide a value to the
enumerator object or signal the end of iteration. It’s part of the Iterator design pattern,
which allows for traversing container objects without exposing their underlying
representation.

In a method returning IEnumerable or IEnumerator, ‘yield return’ provides a sequence of

values, one at a time, while preserving state between calls. When the method is called, it
returns the enumerator, but doesn’t execute code until MoveNext() is invoked. On
reaching ‘yield return’, execution halts and resumes from there on next invocation.

‘Yield break’ stops iteration, signaling no more elements are left.

A scenario where ‘yield’ proves useful is when dealing with large data sets. Instead of
loading all data into memory, you can use ‘yield return’ to process each item individually,
reducing memory footprint and improving performance by starting processing before all
data is fetched.

11. What are covariance and contravariance in C#?

Covariance and contravariance in C# are concepts that allow for implicit reference
conversion for array types, delegate types, and generic type arguments. Covariance
preserves assignment compatibility and supports implicit conversion of a base class to a
derived class. It’s applicable in method return types or read-only fields like IEnumerable.
Contravariance is the opposite; it allows for an implicit conversion from a derived class to
a base class. It’s used in method input parameters or write-only fields like Action. Both
enhance flexibility while ensuring type safety.

12. How do you implement thread-safe operations in C#?

Thread-safe operations in C# can be implemented using various techniques. One

common method is through the use of locks, which ensure that only one thread can
access a particular code block at any given time. This is achieved by declaring a private
static object to act as a key for the lock and then wrapping the critical section of code
within a lock statement.

Another approach is via Monitor class methods like Enter and Exit, providing more
control over the locked object. However, it’s crucial to correctly release the lock under all
circumstances, including exceptions, hence ‘try/finally’ blocks are used with these
methods.

The Interlocked class provides atomic operations on variables, ensuring thread safety
without requiring explicit locking. It includes methods for incrementing, decrementing,
exchanging, and comparing values atomically.

Lastly, Concurrent Collections such as ConcurrentDictionary or BlockingCollection

provide built-in thread-safety mechanisms for collection objects.

13. Can you explain how LINQ is used in C#? Provide an example.

Language Integrated Query (LINQ) in C# is a powerful feature that allows querying data
from different sources directly from the language syntax. It provides a unified model for
querying arrays, XML documents, relational databases and other types of data.

A simple LINQ query example:

List<int> numbers = new List<int>() { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

var evenNumbers = from num in numbers where num % 2 == 0 select num;

In this code snippet, we declare a list of integers. The LINQ query filters out the even
numbers using the ‘where’ clause and stores them in ‘evenNumbers’. This demonstrates
how LINQ can be used to manipulate collections of data in an intuitive way.

14. What are the different types of delegates in C# and how are
they used?

C# has three types of delegates: Singlecast, Multicast, and Generic.

Singlecast delegates point to a single method at a time. They are used when there’s only
one operation to be performed. For instance, they can be used for event handling where
an event leads to a single action.

Multicast delegates reference multiple methods and invoke them sequentially. This is
useful in scenarios where an event triggers multiple actions. It holds references using an
invocation list, allowing it to call the methods iteratively.
Generic delegates are predefined in .NET framework: Func, Action, and Predicate. Func
delegate has zero or more input parameters and one out parameter. Action delegate has
zero or more input parameters but does not return a value. Predicate delegate takes one
input parameter and returns a boolean.

15. How do you handle events in C#? What is the role of an event
delegate?

In C#, events are handled using delegates, which serve as a type-safe function pointer.
An event delegate is essentially a reference to a method with a particular parameter list
and return type. When an event occurs, the methods referenced by the delegate are
invoked.

To handle an event in C#, you first define an event based on a delegate that matches its
signature. This can be done within a class or interface. Next, you create an instance of the
event’s delegate that points to the event handler method. Finally, you associate the event
with the event handler by adding the delegate instance to the event.

The role of an event delegate is crucial because it provides a way for an object to notify
other objects when something significant happens. The notifying object is often referred
to as the publisher and the receiving objects are known as subscribers. In this context,
the event delegate acts as a bridge between the publisher and subscriber.

16. Can you give an example of how you would use reflection in
C#?

Reflection in C# is used to retrieve metadata at runtime. It’s useful for dynamic type
checking or loading, and accessing attributes in your program’s metadata.

Here’s an example of using reflection to get the methods of a class:

using System;
using System.Reflection;

public class MyClass {

public void Method1() {}
public void Method2() {}
}

class Program {
static void Main() {
Type t = typeof(MyClass);
MethodInfo[] methods = t.GetMethods(BindingFlags.Public |
BindingFlags.Instance);

foreach (MethodInfo method in methods) {

Console.WriteLine(method.Name);
}
}
}

In this code, typeof(MyClass) gets the Type object for MyClass . The GetMethods

function retrieves all public instance methods from that class. Each method name is then
printed to the console.

17. How would you implement async and await in C#? What
problems do they solve?
Async and await are used in C# to create asynchronous methods that help maintain
responsiveness of an application. They solve the problem of blocking, where a thread is
held up by time-consuming operations.

To implement async and await, you first declare a method with the ‘async’ keyword. This
tells the compiler that the method is asynchronous. Inside this method, you use the
‘await’ keyword before calling any task that could potentially block your thread. The
‘await’ keyword tells the compiler to asynchronously wait for the task to complete without
blocking the rest of your code.

Here’s a simple example:

public async Task MyMethodAsync()

{
// Other code...

await LongRunningOperation();

// More code...
}

In this example, LongRunningOperation() is a method that returns a Task . When called

with ‘await’, it will run asynchronously, allowing other parts of your code to continue
running while it completes.

18. What is the difference between System.String and

System.Text.StringBuilder types in terms of performance and
memory usage?

System.String and System.Text.StringBuilder differ in performance and memory usage

due to their mutability. System.String is immutable, meaning once created, it cannot be
changed. Any operation that appears to modify a string actually creates a new one,
leading to increased memory usage and slower performance for repetitive modifications.

On the other hand, System.Text.StringBuilder is mutable. It allows modification without

creating a new instance, making it more efficient for repeated changes. StringBuilder pre-
allocates a buffer to accommodate changes, reducing the need for reallocation and
copying operations, thus saving memory and improving performance.

However, for single or few modifications, the overhead of StringBuilder may outweigh its
benefits, making String more suitable. Therefore, choosing between them depends on
the specific use case.

19. Explain how you would use extension methods in C#?

Extension methods in C# allow adding new methods to existing types without modifying
the original type. To use them, first create a static class that will hold the extension
method. Within this class, define a static method with the same signature as the desired
extension method. The first parameter of this method should be preceded by ‘this’
keyword and represent the type being extended.

For instance, if we want to add an extension method for string type to count vowels:
 public static class StringExtensions
{
public static int CountVowels(this string str)
{
return str.Count(c => "aeiou".Contains(char.ToLower(c)));
}
}

Now, you can call CountVowels on any string object like: "hello world".CountVowels(); .
This approach enhances code readability and maintainability by keeping related
functionality together.

20. What is boxing and unboxing in C#? How does it impact

performance?

Boxing in C# is the process of converting a value type to an object type, which involves
creating an object instance and copying the value into it. Unboxing, conversely, converts
an object type back to its original value type by extracting the value. Both processes
impact performance due to memory allocation and garbage collection.

In boxing, heap memory is allocated for the new object, causing overhead. The boxed
value is then copied into this space. This can be costly if done frequently or with large
data structures.

Unboxing also incurs cost as it requires type checking and casting. If the cast isn’t valid,
an exception occurs, further impacting performance. Moreover, unboxed objects that are
no longer needed become subject to garbage collection, adding additional overhead.

To mitigate these costs, developers should minimize boxing and unboxing where
possible. For example, using generic collections instead of non-generic ones can avoid
unnecessary boxing/unboxing operations.

21. What are lambda expressions in C#, and how have you used
them in your projects?

Lambda expressions in C# are anonymous functions that can contain expressions and
statements. They’re used to create delegates or expression tree types, simplifying code
by reducing the need for explicit delegate definitions.

In my projects, I’ve utilized lambda expressions primarily in LINQ queries for data
manipulation. For instance, when filtering a list of objects based on certain criteria,
instead of writing a separate function to perform the filter operation, I use a lambda
expression directly within the LINQ query. This makes the code more readable and
concise.

Another application is event handling. Instead of defining an event handler method

separately, I often use lambda expressions to define the event behavior inline where it’s
attached. This reduces clutter in the codebase and enhances readability.

22. How do nullable types work in C# and how would you use
them?
Nullable types in C# allow variables to hold a null value, which is not possible with
regular value types. They are declared by appending a question mark (?) to the type
name. For instance, “int?” declares a nullable integer.

The primary use of nullable types is when dealing with databases where fields may
contain no data. Nullable types prevent runtime errors when trying to assign null to a
value type variable.

To check if a nullable type contains a value or not, we use the ‘HasValue’ property. If it
returns true, you can get the value using the ‘Value’ property. Alternatively, you can use
the ‘GetValueOrDefault()’ method, which will return either the assigned value or the
default for that type if null.

Here’s an example:

int? num = null;

if(num.HasValue)
{
Console.WriteLine(num.Value);
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine(num.GetValueOrDefault());
}

23. Can you explain the concept of polymorphism in C# and

provide an example?

Polymorphism in C#, a fundamental principle of OOP, allows objects to take on many

forms. It’s achieved through inheritance and interfaces, enabling one entity to be used as
multiple types. This enhances code reusability and readability.

Consider an abstract class ‘Animal’ with an abstract method ‘Sound()’. We have two
derived classes: ‘Dog’ and ‘Cat’, each overriding the ‘Sound()’ method.

abstract class Animal {

public abstract void Sound();
}

class Dog : Animal {

public override void Sound() {
Console.WriteLine("Bark");
}
}

class Cat : Animal {

public override void Sound() {
Console.WriteLine("Meow");
}
}

In main function, we can create instances for ‘Dog’ and ‘Cat’ but reference them with
‘Animal’ type. When ‘Sound()’ is called, it executes the respective class’s method due to
polymorphism.

static void Main(string[] args) {

Animal myDog = new Dog();
Animal myCat = new Cat();

myDog.Sound(); // Outputs "Bark"

myCat.Sound(); // Outputs "Meow"
 }

24. How would you use the ‘sealed’ keyword in C# and why might
you want to use it?

The ‘sealed’ keyword in C# is used to prevent a class from being inherited or a method
from being overridden. It ensures the integrity of your code by restricting other
developers from altering it, thus maintaining its original functionality.

For instance, consider a base class ‘Animal’ with a method ‘Eat()’. If we want to ensure that
all animals eat in a specific way and this action should not be modified, we can seal the
‘Eat()’ method:

public class Animal {

public virtual void Eat() { /*...*/ }
}
public class Dog : Animal {
public sealed override void Eat() { /*...*/ }
}

In this example, any class inheriting from ‘Dog’ cannot override ‘Eat()’.

Similarly, if we have a class ‘Cat’ that shouldn’t serve as a base class, we can seal it:

public sealed class Cat : Animal { /*...*/ }

Now, no class can inherit from ‘Cat’. Sealing classes or methods provides control over
inheritance hierarchy and prevents unintended polymorphism, enhancing predictability
and performance.

25. How can you manage and monitor the performance of a C#

application? What tools or techniques would you use?

Performance of a C# application can be managed and monitored using various tools and
techniques. Profiling tools like Visual Studio’s Performance Profiler provide insights into
CPU usage, memory consumption, and other metrics. It allows for code analysis to
identify bottlenecks or inefficient methods.

Debugging tools in Visual Studio also aid performance management by identifying

exceptions or logical errors that may affect the application’s efficiency.

Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tools such as New Relic or AppDynamics

offer real-time monitoring capabilities, providing alerts on issues affecting performance.

In terms of techniques, implementing logging within the application helps track its
behavior over time. Regular code reviews ensure efficient coding practices are followed.
Unit testing verifies individual parts of the program work correctly, contributing to overall
performance.

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