INTRODUCTION TO C#

• C# is a multi-paradigm programming language

which is based on object oriented and
component-oriented programming.
• It provides a framework for free intermixing
constructs from different languages.
• C# was developed by Microsoft with Anders
Hejlsberg the principal designer and lead
architect
• Anders Hejlsberg and his team wanted to
build a new programming language that would
help to write class libraries in a .NET
framework.
• C# has controversially been stated as an
imitation of Java.
• both Java and C# have exhibited distinct
features which support strong object-oriented
design principles.
• C# was intended to be a simple, modern,
object-oriented language.
• C# makes it easy to develop software
components through the following:
• Encapsulated method signatures
called delegates.
• Properties, which access private member
variables.
• Attributes, which provide declarative metadata
about types at run time.
• Inline XML documentation comments.
• Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) which
provides built-in query capabilities across a
variety of data sources.
 FEATURES

• C# is the first “component-oriented” language

in the C/C++ family.
• The big idea of C# is that everything is an
object.
• C# is a programming language that directly
reflects the underlying Common Language
Infrastructure (CLI).
• Type-safety: C# is more type safe than C++.
Type safety is the extent to which a
programming language discourages or
prevents type errors.
• C#, like C++, but unlike Java, supports
operator overloading.
• Managed memory is automatically garbage
collected.
• In addition to the try...catch construct to handle
exceptions, C# has a try...finally construct to
guarantee execution of the code in the finally block,
whether an exception occurs or not.
• C# supports a strict Boolean data type
• Multiple inheritance is not supported, although a
class can implement any number of interfaces.
• Unlike Java, C# does not have checked exceptions.
• Structs in C# are designed to encapsulate
lightweight objects. They are value types (not
reference types), so they're passed by value.
• There is no access modifier on the name of
the base class and inheritance is always public.
• ii. A class can only be derived from one base
class. If no base class is explicitly specified,
then the class will automatically be derived
from System. Object.
• iii.
• In C++, the only types of class members are
variables, functions, constructors, destructors
and operator overloads, C# also permits
delegates, events and properties.
• The access modifiers public, private and
protected have the same meaning as in C++
but there are two additional access modifiers
available: (a) Internal (b) Protected internal (II)
• A delegate is similar to a function pointer in
C/C#.
• Using a delegate allows a programmer to
encapsulate a reference to a method inside a
delegate object, which can then be passed to
code.
• In C# one can choose to override a virtual
function from base class.
• In C# we have abstract methods and in C++ pure
virtual methods. Both may not be exactly same
• BOXING AND UNBOXING Boxing is the
operation of converting a value-type into a value
of a corresponding reference type. Boxing in C#
is implicit.
• Unboxing is the operation of converting a value
of a reference type (previously boxed) into a
value of a value type.
• COMMON TYPE SYSTEM
• C# has a unified type system. This unified type
system is called Common Type System (CTS).
• Generics use type parameters, which make it
possible to design classes and methods that
do not specify the type used until the class or
method is instantiated
 ADVANTAGES OF C#

• It allows design time and run time attributes to

be included.
• It allows integrated documentation using XML.
No header files, IDL etc. are required.
• It can be embedded into web pages.
• Garbage collection ensures no memory leakage
and stray pointers.
• Due to exceptions, error handling is well-
planned
• C# source file may define any number of
classes, structs, interfaces, and events.
• C# build process is simple compared to C and
C++ and more flexible than in Java.
• There are no separate header files, and no
requirement that methods and types be
declared in a particular order.
 APPLICATIONS OF C#
• The three main types of application that can
be written in C# are:
• 1. Win forms - Windows like Forms.
• 2. Console - Command line Input and Output.
3. Web Sites : Web sites need IIS (Microsoft's
web server) and ASP.NET.