Data Types in C#

Introduction

In C# every variable is associated with a data type. Data types specify the size and type of the values that can be stored.

The types in C# are divided into two types

1. Value types

2. Reference types

Both value types and reference types are differ in characteristic

Difference between value types and reference types

Value type:

Value type are stored on the stack and when a value of a variable is assigned to another variable, the value is actually copied i.e. two identical copies of the value are available in memory

Normally the value types are grouped in two categories...

User Defined types:

·         Enumeration

·         structures

Predefined types

·         Integers

·         Real Number

·         Boolean

·         Characters

Eg:

int m=10;

int n;

N=m; Here the value are actually copied.

Reference Type:

Reference type are stored on the heap and when a value of a variable is assigned to another variable, only the reference is copied, actual value remains in the same memory location i.e. two reference to a single value

  

 Reference types also divided into two groups

·         User Defined types

·         Predefined types

User defined types:

·         Classes

·         String

·         Delegates

·         Array

Predefined types

·         Object type

·         String type

Eg:

Object  m=10;

Object n;

N=m; Here only the reference has been copied, the value are stored same location,any changes on m also affect the changes on n.

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