Structs in C#

Structs in C# are value types, which means they are stored on the stack and not on the heap like classes. This makes them more efficient in terms of memory usage and performance. In this tutorial, we will explore the basics of structs in C# and how to use them effectively.

Declaring a Struct

A struct is declared using the struct keyword followed by the name of the struct and the members of the struct. Here is an example of a simple struct:

public struct Person
{
    public string Name;
    public int Age;
}

In this example, we have declared a struct called Person with two members: Name and Age.

Initializing a Struct

A struct can be initialized using the new keyword or by assigning values to its members directly. Here are examples of both:

// Using the new keyword
Person person1 = new Person();
person1.Name = "John Doe";
person1.Age = 30;

// Assigning values directly
Person person2;
person2.Name = "Jane Doe";
person2.Age = 25;

Properties and Methods in Structs

Structs can have properties and methods just like classes. Here is an example of a struct with a property and a method:

public struct Person
{
    private string name;
    private int age;

    public string Name
    {
        get { return name; }
        set { name = value; }
    }

    public int Age
    {
        get { return age; }
        set { age = value; }
    }

    public void DisplayInfo()
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Name: {Name}, Age: {Age}");
    }
}

In this example, we have added a property called Name and a method called DisplayInfo to the Person struct.

Using Structs in Code

Here is an example of how to use the Person struct in code:

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Person person = new Person();
        person.Name = "John Doe";
        person.Age = 30;
        person.DisplayInfo();
    }
}

This code will output:

Name: John Doe, Age: 30

Best Practices for Using Structs

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using structs:

• Use structs for small, simple data structures.
• Avoid using structs for large, complex data structures.
• Use structs when you need to store data on the stack.
• Avoid using structs when you need to store data on the heap.

By following these best practices, you can use structs effectively in your C# code.