C# is used to develop web apps, desktop apps, mobile apps, games and much more.
It is an object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft that runs on the .NET Framework.
C# has roots from the C family, and the language is close to other popular languages like.
The first version was released in year 2002. The latest version, C# 13, was released in November 2024.
using System;
namespace HelloWorld
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");
}
}
}
Why Use C#?
It is one of the most popular programming languages in the world
It is easy to learn and simple to use
It has huge community support
C# is an object-oriented language which gives a clear structure to programs and allows code to be
reused, lowering development costs
As C# is close to C, C++ and Java, it makes it easy for programmers to switch to C# or vice versa
Variables are containers for storing data values.
In C#, there are different types of variables (defined with different keywords), for example:
int - stores integers (whole numbers), without decimals, such as 123 or -123
double - stores floating point numbers, with decimals, such as 19.99 or -19.99
char - stores single characters, such as 'a' or 'B'. Char values are surrounded by single quotes
string - stores text, such as "Hello World". String values are surrounded by double quotes
bool - stores values with two states: true or false
type variableName = value;
string name = "John";
Console.WriteLine(name);
int myNum = 15;
myNum = 20; // myNum is now 20
Console.WriteLine(myNum);
"constant", which means unchangeable and read-only:
const int myNum = 15;
myNum = 20; // error
The general rules for naming variables are:
Names can contain letters, digits and the underscore character (_)
Names must begin with a letter or underscore
Names should start with a lowercase letter, and cannot contain whitespace
Names are case-sensitive ("myVar" and "myvar" are different variables)
Reserved words (like C# keywords, such as int or double) cannot be used as names
Use if to specify a block of code to be executed, if a specified condition is true
Use else to specify a block of code to be executed, if the same condition is false
Use else if to specify a new condition to test, if the first condition is false
Use switch to specify many alternative blocks of code to be executed
if (condition)
{
// block of code to be executed if the condition is True
}
if (condition)
{
// block of code to be executed if the condition is True
}
else
{
// block of code to be executed if the condition is False
}
if (condition1)
{
// block of code to be executed if condition1 is True
}
else if (condition2)
{
// block of code to be executed if the condition1 is false and condition2 is True
}
else
{
// block of code to be executed if the condition1 is false and condition2 is False
}
Example
variable = (condition) ? expressionTrue : expressionFalse;
Use the switch statement to select one of many code blocks to be executed.
switch(expression)
{
case x:
// code block
break;
case y:
// code block
break;
default:
// code block
break;
}
Loops
Loops can execute a block of code as long as a specified condition is reached.
Loops are handy because they save time, reduce errors, and they make code more readable.
C# While Loop
The while loop loops through a block of code as long as a specified condition is True:
while (condition)
{
// code block to be executed
}
for (statement 1; statement 2; statement 3)
{
// code block to be executed
}
Statement 1 is executed (one time) before the execution of the code block.
Statement 2 defines the condition for executing the code block.
Statement 3 is executed (every time) after the code block has been executed.
The foreach Loop
There is also a foreach loop, which is used exclusively to loop through elements in an array (or other
data sets):
SyntaxGet your own C# Server
foreach (type variableName in arrayName)
{
// code block to be executed
}
string[] cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
foreach (string i in cars)
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
You have already seen the break statement used in an earlier chapter of this tutorial. It was used to "jump
out" of a switch statement.
The break statement can also be used to jump out of a loop.
This example jumps out of the loop when i is equal to 4:
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
if (i == 4)
{
break;
}
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
C# Continue
The continue statement breaks one iteration (in the loop), if a specified condition occurs, and continues
with the next iteration in the loop.
This example skips the value of 4:
Example
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
if (i == 4)
{
continue;
}
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
Create an Array
Arrays are used to store multiple values in a single variable, instead of declaring separate variables for
each value.
To declare an array, define the variable type with square brackets:
string[] cars;
We have now declared a variable that holds an array of strings.
To insert values to it, we can use an array literal - place the values in a comma-separated list, inside curly
braces:
string[] cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
To create an array of integers, you could write:
int[] myNum = {10, 20, 30, 40};
Access the Elements of an Array
You access an array element by referring to the index number.
This statement accesses the value of the first element in cars:
ExampleGet your own C# Server
string[] cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
Console.WriteLine(cars[0]);
// Outputs Volvo
Note: Array indexes start with 0: [0] is the first element. [1] is the second element, etc.
Change an Array Element
To change the value of a specific element, refer to the index number:
Example
cars[0] = "Opel";
Example
string[] cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
cars[0] = "Opel";
Console.WriteLine(cars[0]);
// Now outputs Opel instead of Volvo
Array Length
To find out how many elements an array has, use the Length property:
Example
string[] cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
Console.WriteLine(cars.Length);
// Outputs 4
Other Ways to Create an Array
If you are familiar with C#, you might have seen arrays created with the new keyword, and perhaps you
have seen arrays with a specified size as well. In C#, there are different ways to create an array:
// Create an array of four elements, and add values later
string[] cars = new string[4];
// Create an array of four elements and add values right away
string[] cars = new string[4] {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
// Create an array of four elements without specifying the size
string[] cars = new string[] {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
// Create an array of four elements, omitting the new keyword, and without specifying
the size
string[] cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford", "Mazda"};
It is up to you which option you choose. In our tutorial, we will often use the last option, as it is faster and
easier to read.
However, you should note that if you declare an array and initialize it later, you have to use the new
keyword:
// Declare an array
string[] cars;
// Add values, using new
cars = new string[] {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford"};
// Add values without using new (this will cause an error)
cars = {"Volvo", "BMW", "Ford"};
