C#

The purpose of this page is to make a list of common topics and concepts within the C# programming language and the .NET framework.

abstract class

An abstract class acts as an incomplete class, a base class for other classes.

access modifiers

Access modifiers determine what level of access a type has to its parent types. In C# there are five access modifiers:

1. public: Members marked as public are visible to any method from any class.
2. private: Members that are marked private are only accessible to itself.
3. protected: Members that are marked protected are only accessible to itself and members that derive from that class.
4. internal: Members that are marked internal are only accessible to methods and members within that member’s assembly.
5. protected internal: Members marked protected internal are accessible to members that derive from it and to members that are in the same assembly as itself.

Arrays

An array is an indexed collection of objects.

ASP.NET

A server side scripting language that uses the .NET framework.

assembly

When code is compiled an assembly is created and is seen by the programmer as a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) or an executable

C#

C# (pronounced c sharp) is an object oriented programming language developed by Microsoft.

Class

A class is an instance of an object. A class is a blueprint for real world objects – and that blueprint (class) becomes a real world object. A class is a generic outline of objects with common attributes and characteristics. In C# you define a class by using the class keyword:

public class MyTestClass
{
}

Common Intermediate Language (CIL)

The CIL is lowest-level human-readable programming language. It targets the .NET framework and is compiled into bytecode that uses a virtual machine to execute it.

CLR

The Common Language Runtime allows developers to use a wide range of programming languages knowing that they all compile to the same binary code.

Constructor

A constructor acts as an initializer method for a class. The constructor uses the same name as the class name, and differs with a pair of parenthesis.

Delegates

Use delegates when you want other classes to use your events when you do not know what their specific implementation might look like. Declare a delegate with the delegate keyword. You must also declare an instance of that delegate. Use the event keyword to make sure the delegate instance is not called directly:

        public delegate void TrafficLightHandler(object o, TrafficEventArgs e);
        public event TrafficLightHandler TrafficHandled;

Encapsulation

The ability of an object to be completely self-contained, where all its methods and attributes are hidden to other objects. An object is a unit of self-sustaining code.

EventArgs

EventArgs is the base class for objects that contain event data.

Generics

Generics are collections of copies of objects, instances of a class. .NET provides type-safe collections such as Lists, Queues, Stacks and Dictionaries

interface

An interface in an object oriented programming language is a contract between a parent and child class that ensures that the child class executes a specified number of methods.

Microsoft Silverlight

Microsoft Silverlight is a plugin for a browser that allows users to experience Rich Internet Applications.

polymorphism

Polymorphism is an object oriented paradigm that specifies a method or class to be able to change the way it works, but still use the same operation/class name.

SOA

Service Oriented Architecture

Stack

A stack is a region of memory that changes in a Last-In-First-Out basis.

Static Members

Static members are only accessible through the class, not through an instance of that class. Static constructors cannot have access modifiers. So the following code explains static constructors:

    public class MyTestClass
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");
            MySecondClass testclass = new MySecondClass(); //the static method is not available through the instance
            MySecondClass.MyStaticMethod();
        }
    }
    public class MySecondClass
    {
        public void MyMethod()
        {
        }
        public static void MyStaticMethod()
        {
        }
    }

Strongly typed

A strongly typed language means that all your variables are explicitly declared and initiated. It means that you do not leave it up to the programming language to decide what the variable type is. In C# you get a warning if you do not initiate integer variables for instance.

type

A type is a thing, a tangible/visible thing such as a button, menu.

using

The using keyword is used when the IDisposable interface is implemented. The complier sees the using keyword in the same light as try{} catch{} finally{}. It ensures that the object that you are using is disposed of properly.

Visual Studio

Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that allows for the development of windows-based and web-based applications.

Web-based application

A web-based application is a type of application that targets web-browsers. In other words the application’s output is documents formatted in XHTML.

Windows-based applications

A windows-based application targets the windows platform and can only run on a Windows-based operating system such as Windows XP and Windows Vista.