C# 3.0 var keyword

C# 3.0 has many-a-new features. This post will explain the 'var' keywork and the concept of Implicitly Typed Variables.

The var keyword is not a late-bound or un-typed variable reference. The var keyword always generates a strongly typed variable reference. The main idea is that the developer is not required to define the type of the variable at the time of declaration, but it is the task of the compiler to decide what type of the object the variable is. The compiler infer the type of the variable from the expression used to initialize the variable when it is first declared.

Important points about var keyword:

• The type of the variable is defined by the value declared and decided at the compile time. (Size depends on the type of the value initialised)
• Type casting is simple and handled by CLR.
• Explicit functions for parsing to specific type.
• Can be used to reference any type in C#.
• The CLR actually never knows that the var keyword is being used.

What rules shuold you force to use the var keyword?

When you declare variable with the var keyword, you must to always do an initial value assignment.  This is because the var keyword produces a strongly-typed variable declaration. Hence, the compiler needs to be able to infer the type to declare based on its usage.   If you don't, the compiler will produce a compiler error.

   1: var vAge = 32; 

   2: var vHeight = 175.2; 

   3: var vName = “Maor David“;  

 

The compiler will infer the type of the "age", "height" and "name" variables based on the type of their initial assignment value. This means it will generate IL that is absolutely identical to the code below:

   1: int age = 32;

   2: double height = 175.2;

   3: string name = "Maor David";

You can also use it to other data types:

   1: foreach (var vTable in ds.Tables) 

   2: {

   3:     foreach (var vRow in ((DataTable) vTable).Rows) 

   4:     {

   5:  

   6:     }

   7: }

This is equal to:

   1: foreach (DataTable table in ds.Tables)

   2: {

   3:     foreach (DataRow vRow in table.Rows)

   4:     {

   5:     }

   6: }

Technorati Tags: .NET3.0, .NET3.5, C#

You can read this post also at Maor David's Blog: http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/maordavid/archive/2007/09/15/C_2300_-3.0-var-keyword.aspx