MSDN Documentation

Introduction to C#

Welcome to the official Microsoft documentation for C#. This guide is designed to introduce you to the C# programming language, its features, and its capabilities. C# (pronounced "C sharp") is a modern, object-oriented, and type-safe programming language developed by Microsoft as part of its .NET initiative.

What is C#?

C# is a versatile language that can be used to build a wide range of applications, including:

• Web applications and services using ASP.NET Core
• Desktop applications with WPF and Windows Forms
• Mobile apps with Xamarin
• Games using Unity
• Cloud services on Azure
• And much more!

It's known for its strong type checking, robust memory management, and its close integration with the .NET ecosystem, providing a rich set of libraries and tools.

Key Features of C#

C# offers a compelling set of features that make it a powerful and productive language for developers:

• Object-Oriented: Supports encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
• Type-Safe: Reduces runtime errors by enforcing type constraints at compile time.
• Garbage Collection: Automatic memory management frees developers from manual memory allocation and deallocation.
• LINQ (Language Integrated Query): Provides a consistent syntax for querying data from various sources.
• Asynchronous Programming: Simplifies the development of responsive and scalable applications.
• Modern Syntax: Features like lambda expressions, extension methods, and pattern matching enhance developer productivity.

Getting Started

To start coding with C#, you'll need a development environment. The most common choice is Visual Studio, a powerful Integrated Development Environment (IDE) from Microsoft. You can also use Visual Studio Code with the C# extension, or even build applications from the command line using the .NET SDK.

Here's a simple "Hello, World!" program to give you a taste of C# syntax:

using System;

public class HelloWorld
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
    }
}
                

This basic program demonstrates the fundamental structure of a C# application. The using System; directive imports the System namespace, which contains essential classes like Console. The Main method is the entry point of the application.

The .NET Ecosystem

C# is deeply integrated with the .NET platform. .NET provides a comprehensive framework for building and running applications, including the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and the Base Class Library (BCL). Understanding the .NET ecosystem is crucial for effective C# development.

Explore the rest of the documentation to delve deeper into specific features, best practices, and advanced topics.