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Cheatsheets / Learn C#

Learn C#: Methods

Main() method

In C#, the Main() method is the application’s entry

point. When the application is run, execution begins at
the start of the Main() method.

Method Overloading

In C#, multiple methods can have the same name, as long // MultiplyValues has 2 overloads that
as they each have a different method signature. A
accept different numbers of parameters
method’s signature comprises its name, parameter types,
and parameter order. Defining multiple methods with the static int MultiplyValues(int a, int b)
same name is called method overloading. {
return a * b;
}

static int MultiplyValues(int a, int b,

int c)
{
return a * b * c;
}

static void Main(string[] args)

{
MultiplyValues(2, 3); // Returns 6
MultiplyValues(2, 3, 4); // Returns 24
}

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Variables Inside Methods

Parameters and variables declared inside of a method static void DeclareAndPrintVars(int x)

cannot be used outside of the method’s body. Attempting
{
to do so will cause an error when compiling the program!
int y = 3;
// Using x and y inside the method is
fine.
Console.WriteLine(x + y);
}

static void Main()

{
DeclareAndPrintVars(5);

// x and y only exist inside the body of

DeclareAndPrintVars, so we cannot use them
here.
Console.WriteLine(x * y);
}

Calling Methods

A method is called by using the method name followed by // Console.WriteLine is a method, which we
a set of parentheses () . Any argument values should be
called using parentheses
included between the parentheses, separated by
commas. // its string argument, "Hello World!" in
this case, gets printed to the console
// and the argument is passed between the
parentheses
Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");

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Optional Parameters

In C#, methods can be given optional parameters. A // y and z are optional parameters.
parameter is optional if its declaration specifies a default
static int AddSomeNumbers(int x, int y =
argument. Methods with an optional parameter can be
called with or without passing in an argument for that 3, int z = 2)
parameter. If a method is called without passing in an {
argument for the optional parameter, then the
return x + y + z;
parameter is initialized with its default value.
To define an optional parameter, use an equals sign after }
the parameter declaration followed by its default value.

// Any of the following are valid method

calls.
AddSomeNumbers(1); // Returns 6.
AddSomeNumbers(1, 1); // Returns 4.
AddSomeNumbers(3, 3, 3); // Returns 9.

What is a Method?

In C#, a method is a reusable set of instructions that

performs a specific task. Methods can be passed one or
more values as inputs and can output one or more values
at the end of their execution.

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Positional vs Named Arguments

In C#, an argument passed to a method may be identified static void CalculateMean(double

by position or name.
sumOfValues, double numberOfValues = 10)
Positional arguments are values passed directly to the
method call in the same order as the defined parameters. {
Named arguments are values passed to the method call double result = sumOfValues /
along with the name of the parameter they should be
numberOfValues;
assigned to, irrespective of the order in which the
parameters are defined. An argument can be named by Console.WriteLine(result);
using the parameter name followed by a colon (:), and }
then the argument value.
Positional and named arguments may be used within the
same method call, but all positional arguments must static void Main(string[] args)
precede all named arguments. {
// sumOfValues is passed positionally
and numberOfValues is passed by name
CalculateMean(50, numberOfValues: 20);
// Prints 2.5

// both arguments are passed by name

CalculateMean(numberOfValues: 4,
sumOfValues: 21);
// Prints 5.25
}

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Parameters and Arguments

In C#, a method can take inputs via parameters. // IntroduceSelf takes two parameters,
Parameters are variables that can be used within the
name and age
method body. When a method is called, the actual values
passed to the method are called arguments. static void IntroduceSelf(string name, int
age)
{
// name and age are used within the
method body
Console.WriteLine($"Hi, my name is
{name}, and I am {age} years old.");
}

static void Main(string[] args)

{
// "Astrid" and 28 are passed as
arguments to the method call
// and correlate to the name and age
parameters respectively
IntroduceSelf("Astrid", 28);
// Prints "Hi, my name is Astrid, and I
am 28 years old."
}

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Void Return Type

In C#, methods that do not return a value have a void // This method has no return value
return type.
static void DoesNotReturn()
void is not an actual data type like int or string , as it
represents the lack of an output or value. {
Console.WriteLine("Hi, I don't return
like a bad library borrower.");
}
// This method returns an int
static int ReturnsAnInt()
{
return 2 + 3;
}

Method Declaration

In C#, a method declaration, also known as a method // This is an example of a method header.
header, includes everything about the method other than
static int MyMethodName(int parameter1,
the method’s body. The method declaration includes:
the method name string parameter2) {
parameter types // Method body goes here...
parameter order
}
parameter names
return type
optional modifiers

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Return Keyword

In C#, the return statement can be used to return a static int ReturnAValue(int x)
value from a method back to the method’s caller.
{
When return is invoked, the current method terminates
and control is returned to where the method was // We return the result of computing x *
originally called. The value that is returned by the method 10 back to the caller.
must match the method’s return type, which is specified
// Notice how we are returning an int,
in the method declaration.
which matches the method's return type.
return x * 10;
}

static void Main()

{
// We can use the returned value any way
we want, such as storing it in a variable.
int num = ReturnAValue(5);
// Prints 50 to the console.
Console.WriteLine(num);
}

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Out Parameters

return can only return one value. When multiple values // f1, f2, and f3 are out parameters, so
are needed, out parameters can be used.
they must be prefixed with `out`.
out parameters are prefixed with out in the method
header. When called, the argument for each out
static void GetFavoriteFoods(out string
parameter must be a variable prefixed with out . f1, out string f2, out string f3)
The out parameters become aliases for the variables {
that were passed in. So, we can assign values to the
// Notice how we are assigning values to
parameters, and they will persist on the variables we
passed in after the method terminates. the parameters instead of using `return`.
f1 = "Sushi";
f2 = "Pizza";
f3 = "Hamburgers";
}

static void Main()

{
string food1;
string food2;
string food3;
// Variables passed to out parameters
must also be prefixed with `out`.
GetFavoriteFoods(out food1, out food2,
out food3);
// After the method call, food1 =
"Sushi", food2 = "Pizza", and food3 =
"Hamburgers".
Console.WriteLine($"My top 3 favorite
foods are {food1}, {food2}, and {food3}");
}

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