Introduction To C#

Introduction

C# is pronounced as "C sharp". Microsoft created a general-purpose, type-safe, modern, and object-oriented programming language C#. It runs on the framework " .NET". C# is quite similar to other programming languages like C++ and Java. Its's syntax is similar to java and is easy for users who know programming languages like C, C++, or Java.

What is the .NET framework?

.NET is a framework for software development created by Microsoft. It provides a programming environment to develop, install and execute software based on Windows-based OS (Operating System).

Now, coming to C#, the first version of C# was released in 2002.

Features of C#

C# is one of the most popular programming languages and is in demand. The following are some of the reasons for this:

•  C# is easy to start, i.e., C# is a high-level language and is closer to other popular programming languages like C, C++, and Java, and thus it becomes easy to learn for anyone.
• C# is widely used for developing Web Applications, and it is one of the most popular programming languages used in professional desktops.
• C# has vast community support; the larger the community, the better it is because new tools and software will be developed to make it efficient. 
• C# is also widely used for game development. C# integrates with Microsoft and thus has a large target audience.

Programming in C#

The syntax of C# is similar to the Java programming language. If you have experience with any programming language like C or C++, the C# will be easier to understand.

It is easier to code in C# even if you are a beginner. Programs can be written in C# same as in other programming languages.

Example

Let's see an example to understand the syntax of C#. The following is an example of a simple program to print Hello Ninjas in the C# language. 

using System;
class HelloNinjaApp
{
  //main function starts
  static void Main ()
  {
    // Printing hello ninja {This is a comment in C#} 
    Console.WriteLine ("Hello Ninja!");
  }
}

Output

Explanation of the above code:

1. Comments are the pieces of text that we add in programs to make it more readable and easier to understand. The compiler ignores comments in every programming language.
2. The "using" keyword includes the System namespace in the above program, where a namespace is a collection of multiple classes.
3. The data and the method to be used in the program are contained in the class, and methods define the class's behavior.
4. In Console.WriteLine(), WriteLine() is a method of the class Console which is defined in the System namespace.

Note: In C#, all expressions and statements must end with a semicolon (;), and C# is case sensitive.

Visit this official documentation of C# to know more about it and to set up your local environment

Applications

The following are the applications of C#:

• Desktop applications
• Mobile applications
• Web applications(especially of Microsoft)
• Web services
• Game Development in UNITY
• VR
• Database applications

This concludes the introduction to C#. Now let’s move on to FAQs. 

Must read: Singleton Design Pattern C#

FAQs

1. Why do we use C#?
   C# is one of the most popular programming languages and is in demand. It is easy to start and is widely used for developing Web Applications, Desktop applications, and Game development. C# integrates with Microsoft and thus has a large target audience.
2. What are the advantages of C#?
   The following are the disadvantages of C#:
   C# is efficient in managing the system.
   It has high memory backup; thus, there will be no memory leak in C#.
   It has a low cost of maintenance and is safer to run.
3. What are the disadvantages of C#?
   The following are the disadvantages of C#:
   It is less flexible as it mostly depends on the .NET framework.
   C# runs slowly, and we have to compile programs each time after every change in the program.
4.  How many types of comments are there in C#? Name them.
    There are three types of comments in C#:
   Single-line comments (// )
   Multi-line comments (/*  */)
   XML Documentation comments (/// )
5.  Do comments slow down the performance of your code?
   No, comments do not affect the performance of your code as the compiler ignores the comments( does not execute them).

Key Takeaways

In this article, we have extensively discussed the programming language C#. We learned the concept and history of C# and a basic program to understand the syntax of C#. We also learned applications of the C# programming language.

We hope that this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge regarding the introduction of C# and if you would like to learn more, check out our articles in the code studio library. Do upvote our blog to help other ninjas grow. Happy Coding!