C Sharp (programming language)

C Sharp (programming language)
Name	C#
Paradigm	Multi-paradigm: structured, imperative, object-oriented, event-driven, task-driven, functional, generic, reflective, concurrent
Designer	Anders Hejlsberg
Developer	Microsoft
Latest release version	12.0
Latest release date	November 2023
Typing	Static, dynamic, strong, safe, nominative, partially inferred
Influenced by	C, C++, Java, Eiffel, Modula-3, Object Pascal, ML
Influenced	D, F#, Java, Kotlin, Nemerle, Swift, Vala
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
License	MIT License

C Sharp (programming language). C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft as part of its .NET initiative. Designed by Anders Hejlsberg, it was first released in 2000 and has since become a cornerstone for building a wide variety of applications, from desktop software to web services and games. The language is standardized under Ecma International and the International Organization for Standardization.

History

The development of C# began in the late 1990s under the codename "Cool" as part of Microsoft's broader .NET Framework strategy. Led by chief architect Anders Hejlsberg, who had previously worked on Turbo Pascal and Borland Delphi, the team aimed to create a language that combined the power of C++ with the simplicity of Visual Basic. The first official version was released alongside the .NET Framework 1.0 in 2000. Subsequent major versions have added significant features, with the language's evolution being guided by the .NET Foundation and open-source development on GitHub. Key milestones include the introduction of Language Integrated Query in C# 3.0 and the shift to cross-platform support with .NET Core.

Syntax

C# syntax is highly influenced by C and C++, utilizing curly braces to denote blocks of code and semicolons to terminate statements. It supports familiar constructs like if/else, while, for, and switch. A simple program structure typically includes a `Main` method as the entry point, a concept shared with Java. The language employs a Unified Type System where all types, including primitives, inherit from System.Object. Recent versions have introduced more concise syntax, such as top-level statements and pattern matching, reducing boilerplate code.

Features

C# is a multi-paradigm language supporting object-oriented programming with single inheritance but multiple interface implementation. It provides robust support for generic programming through generics, introduced in C# 2.0. Key features include properties, events, delegates, and lambda expressions, which facilitate functional programming patterns. The language emphasizes type safety and memory management via automatic garbage collection. Advanced capabilities include asynchronous programming with the `async` and `await` keywords, nullable reference types for improved null safety, and record types for immutable data models. It also supports reflection and attributes for metadata-driven development.

Common Language Infrastructure

C# is designed to run on the Common Language Infrastructure, a standard developed by Microsoft and standardized by Ecma International as ECMA-335. The CLI provides a virtual execution system known as the Common Language Runtime, which handles just-in-time compilation, memory management, and exception handling. Code written in C# is compiled into Common Intermediate Language, a platform-agnostic instruction set, which is then executed by the CLR. This architecture enables language interoperability, allowing C# to seamlessly use components written in other .NET languages like F# or Visual Basic .NET.

Libraries and frameworks

The primary class library for C# is the .NET Base Class Library, which provides a vast array of APIs for tasks like file I/O, networking, and data access. For web development, the dominant framework is ASP.NET Core, used for building RESTful APIs and dynamic websites. Desktop applications are commonly built with Windows Presentation Foundation or the cross-platform Avalonia. In game development, C# is the primary language for the Unity engine. Other significant libraries include Entity Framework Core for object-relational mapping, Xamarin for mobile apps, and ML.NET for machine learning.

Development tools

The primary integrated development environment for C# is Microsoft Visual Studio, a feature-rich IDE available on Windows and macOS. A lighter, cross-platform alternative is Visual Studio Code, often used with the C# Dev Kit extension. The core compiler, Roslyn, is open-source and provides rich code analysis APIs. Build automation and dependency management are handled by tools like MSBuild and NuGet. For continuous integration, C# projects are commonly built on platforms like GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps. The .NET CLI provides a comprehensive command-line interface for creating, building, and running applications across all supported operating systems.

Category:Programming languages Category:Microsoft development tools Category:.NET framework