Illustrated C# 7 : the C# Language Presented Clearly, Concisely, and Visually, Fifth Edition

Get to work quickly with C# with a uniquely succinct and visual format used to present the C# 7.0 language. Whether you’re getting to grips with C# for the first time or working to deepen your understanding, you’ll find this book to be a clear and refreshing take on each aspect of the language. Figures are of prime importance in this book. While teaching programming seminars, Daniel Solis found that he could almost watch the light bulbs going on over the students’ heads as he drew the figures on the whiteboard. In this text, he has distilled each important concept into simple but accurate illustrations. For this latest edition, Dan is joined by fellow experienced teacher and programmer, Cal Schrotenboer, to bring you the very latest C# language features, along with an understanding of the frameworks it most often lives in: .NET and the new .NET Core. For something as intricate and precise as a programming language, there must be text as well as figures. But rather than long, wordy explanations, the authors use short, concise descriptions and bullet lists to make each important piece of information visually distinct and memorable. **What You’ll Learn** * Start with an overview of C# programming and how the language works under the hood * Put things in context with a little useful history of C# and .NET * Know how .NET Core fits into the picture * Understand how C# handles types * Benefit from clear, concise explanations of each language feature, from classes and inheritance to enumerators and iterators, and the new C# 7.0 tuples * Quickly access material via this book's visual introduction to asynchronous programming with C# **Who This Book Is For** Novice to intermediate C# programmers, and more experienced programmers moving to C# from other languages Contents About the Authors About the Technical Reviewers Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: C# and the .NET Framework Before .NET Windows Programming in the Late 1990s Goals for the Next-Generation Platform Services Enter Microsoft .NET Components of the .NET Framework An Improved Programming Environment Object-Oriented Development Environment Automatic Garbage Collection Interoperability No COM Required Simplified Deployment Type Safety The Base Class Library Compiling to the Common Intermediate Language Compiling to Native Code and Execution Overview of Compilation and Execution The Common Language Runtime The Common Language Infrastructure Important Parts of the CLI The Common Type System The Common Language Specification Review of the Acronyms The Evolution of C# C# and the Evolution of Windows Chapter 2: C# and .NET Core The .NET Framework Background Why .NET Core (and Xamarin)? Goals of .NET Core Multiplatform Support Rapid Development and Upgrades Smaller Application Footprints, Simpler Deployment, and Reduced Versioning Problems Open Source Community Support Improved Application Performance Fresh Start The Development of .NET Core Where Does This Leave the .NET Framework? Where Does Xamarin Fit In? Chapter 3: Overview of C# Programming A Simple C# Program More About SimpleProgram Identifiers Keywords Main: The Starting Point of a Program Whitespace Statements Blocks Text Output from a Program Write WriteLine The Format String Multiple Markers and Values Formatting Numeric Strings The Alignment Specifier The Format Field Standard Numeric Format Specifiers Comments: Annotating the Code More About Comments Documentation Comments Summary of Comment Types Chapter 4: Types, Storage, and Variables A C# Program Is a Set of Type Declarations A Type Is a Template Instantiating a Type Data Members and Function Members Types of Members Predefined Types More About the Predefined Types User-Defined Types The Stack and the Heap The Stack Facts About Stacks The Heap Value Types and Reference Types Storing Members of a Reference Type Object Categorizing the C# Types Variables Variable Declarations Variable Initializers Automatic Initialization Multiple-Variable Declarations Using the Value of a Variable Static Typing and the dynamic Keyword Nullable Types Chapter 5: Classes: The Basics Overview of Classes A Class Is an Active Data Structure Programs and Classes: A Quick Example Declaring a Class Class Members Fields Explicit and Implicit Field Initialization Declarations with Multiple Fields Methods Creating Variables and Instances of a Class Allocating Memory for the Data Combining the Steps Instance Members Access Modifiers Private and Public Access Depicting Public and Private Access Example of Member Access Accessing Members from Inside the Class Accessing Members from Outside the Class Putting It All Together Chapter 6: Methods The Structure of a Method Code Execution in the Method Body Local Variables Type Inference and the var Keyword Local Variables Inside Nested Blocks Local Constants Flow of Control Method Invocations Return Values The Return Statement and Void Methods Local Functions Parameters Formal Parameters Actual Parameters An Example of Methods with Positional Parameters Value Parameters Reference Parameters Reference Types As Value and Reference Parameters Output Parameters Parameter Arrays Method Invocation Expanded Form Arrays As Actual Parameters Summary of Parameter Types Ref Local and Ref Return Method Overloading Named Parameters Optional Parameters Stack Frames Recursion Chapter 7: More About Classes Class Members Order of Member Modifiers Instance Class Members Static Fields Accessing Static Members from Outside the Class Example of a Static Field Lifetimes of Static Members Static Function Members Other Static Class Member Types Member Constants Constants Are Like Statics Properties Property Declarations and Accessors A Property Example Using a Property Properties and Associated Fields Performing Other Calculations Read-Only and Write-Only Properties Properties vs. Public Fields An Example of a Computed, Read-Only Property Automatically Implemented Properties—Auto-properties Static Properties Instance Constructors Constructors with Parameters Default Constructors Static Constructors Example of a Static Constructor Object Initializers Destructors The readonly Modifier The this Keyword Indexers What Is an Indexer? Indexers and Properties Declaring an Indexer The Indexer set Accessor The Indexer get Accessor More About Indexers Declaring the Indexer for the Employee Example Another Indexer Example Indexer Overloading Access Modifiers on Accessors Partial Classes and Partial Types Partial Methods Chapter 8: Classes and Inheritance Class Inheritance Accessing the Inherited Members All Classes Are Derived from Class object Masking Members of a Base Class Base Access Using References to a Base Class Virtual and Override Methods Overriding a Method Marked override Case 1: Declaring Print with override Case 2: Declaring Print with new Overriding Other Member Types Constructor Execution Constructor Initializers Class Access Modifiers Inheritance Between Assemblies Member Access Modifiers Regions Accessing a Member Public Member Accessibility Private Member Accessibility Protected Member Accessibility Internal Member Accessibility Protected Internal Member Accessibility Summary of Member Access Modifiers Abstract Members Abstract Classes Example of an Abstract Class and an Abstract Method Another Example of an Abstract Class Sealed Classes Static Classes Extension Methods Naming Conventions Chapter 9: Expressions and Operators Expressions Literals Integer Literals Real Literals Character Literals String Literals Order of Evaluation Precedence Associativity Simple Arithmetic Operators The Remainder Operator Relational and Equality Comparison Operators Comparison and Equality Operations Increment and Decrement Operators Conditional Logical Operators Logical Operators Shift Operators Assignment Operators Compound Assignment The Conditional Operator Unary Arithmetic Operators User-Defined Type Conversions Explicit Conversion and the Cast Operator Operator Overloading Example of Operator Overloading Restrictions on Operator Overloading The typeof Operator The nameof Operator Other Operators Chapter 10: Statements What Are Statements? Expression Statements Flow-of-Control Statements The if Statement The if...else Statement The while Loop The do Loop The for Loop The Scope of Variables in a for Statement Multiple Expressions in the Initializer and Iteration Expression The switch Statement A Switch Example Involving Constants Other Types of Pattern Expressions More on the switch Statement Switch Labels Jump Statements The break Statement The continue Statement Labeled Statements Labels The Scope of Labeled Statements The goto Statement The goto Statement Inside a switch Statement The using Statement Packaging the Use of a Resource Example of the using Statement Multiple Resources and Nesting Another Form of the using Statement Other Statements Chapter 11: Structs What Are Structs? Structs Are Value Types Assigning to a Struct Constructors and Destructors Instance Constructors Static Constructors Summary of Constructors and Destructors Property and Field Initializers Structs Are Sealed Boxing and Unboxing Structs As Return Values and Parameters Additional Information About Structs Chapter 12: Enumerations Enumerations Setting the Underlying Type and Explicit Values Implicit Member Numbering Bit Flags The Flags Attribute Example Using Bit Flags More About Enums Chapter 13: Arrays Arrays Definitions Important Details Types of Arrays An Array As an Object One-Dimensional and Rectangular Arrays Declaring a One-Dimensional or Rectangular Array Instantiating a One-Dimensional or Rectangular Array Accessing Array Elements Initializing an Array Explicit Initialization of One-Dimensional Arrays Explicit Initialization of Rectangular Arrays Syntax Points for Initializing Rectangular Arrays Shortcut Syntax Implicitly Typed Arrays Putting It All Together Jagged Arrays Declaring a Jagged Array Shortcut Instantiation Instantiating a Jagged Array Subarrays in Jagged Arrays Comparing Rectangular and Jagged Arrays The foreach Statement The Iteration Variable Is Read-Only The foreach Statement with Multidimensional Arrays Example with a Rectangular Array Example with a Jagged Array Array Covariance Useful Inherited Array Members The Clone Method Comparing Array Types Arrays and Ref Return and Ref Local Chapter 14: Delegates What Is a Delegate? An Overview of Delegates Declaring the Delegate Type Creating the Delegate Object Assigning Delegates Combining Delegates Adding Methods to Delegates Removing Methods from a Delegate Invoking a Delegate Delegate Example Invoking Delegates with Return Values Invoking Delegates with Reference Parameters Anonymous Methods Using Anonymous Methods Syntax of Anonymous Methods Return Type Parameters The params Parameters Scope of Variables and Parameters Outer Variables Extension of a Captured Variable’s Lifetime Lambda Expressions Chapter 15: Events Publishers and Subscribers Overview of Source Code Components Declaring an Event An Event Is a Member Subscribing to an Event Raising an Event Standard Event Usage Passing Data by Extending EventArgs Removing Event Handlers Event Accessors Chapter 16: Interfaces What Is an Interface? Example Using the IComparable Interface Declaring an Interface Implementing an Interface Example with a Simple Interface An Interface Is a Reference Type Using the as Operator with Interfaces Implementing Multiple Interfaces Implementing Interfaces with Duplicate Members References to Multiple Interfaces An Inherited Member As an Implementation Explicit Interface Member Implementations Accessing Explicit Interface Member Implementations Interfaces Can Inherit Interfaces Example of Different Classes Implementing an Interface Chapter 17: Conversions What Are Conversions? Implicit Conversions Explicit Conversions and Casting Casting Types of Conversions Numeric Conversions Implicit Numeric Conversions Overflow Checking Context The checked and unchecked Operators The checked and unchecked Statements Explicit Numeric Conversions Integer Type to Integer Type float or double to Integer Type decimal to Integer Type double to float float or double to decimal decimal to float or double Reference Conversions Implicit Reference Conversions Explicit Reference Conversions Valid Explicit Reference Conversions Boxing Conversions Boxing Creates a Copy The Boxing Conversions Unboxing Conversions The Unboxing Conversions User-Defined Conversions Constraints on User-Defined Conversions Example of a User-Defined Conversion Evaluating User-Defined Conversions Example of a Multistep User-Defined Conversion The is Operator The as Operator Chapter 18: Generics What Are Generics? A Stack Example Generics in C# Continuing with the Stack Example Generic Classes Declaring a Generic Class Creating a Constructed Type Creating Variables and Instances The Stack Example Using Generics Comparing the Generic and Nongeneric Stack Constraints on Type Parameters Where Clauses Constraint Types and Order Generic Methods Declaring a Generic Method Invoking a Generic Method Inferring Types Example of a Generic Method Extension Methods with Generic Classes Generic Structs Generic Delegates Another Generic Delegate Example Generic Interfaces An Example Using Generic Interfaces Generic Interface Implementations Must Be Unique Covariance and Contravariance Covariance Contravariance Summarizing the Differences Between Covariance and Contravariance Covariance and Contravariance in Interfaces More About Variance Chapter 19: Enumerators and Iterators Enumerators and Enumerable Types Using the foreach Statement The IEnumerator Interface The IEnumerable Interface Example Using IEnumerable and IEnumerator The Generic Enumeration Interfaces Iterators Iterator Blocks Using an Iterator to Create an Enumerator Using an Iterator to Create an Enumerable Common Iterator Patterns Producing Multiple Enumerables Iterators As Properties Behind the Scenes with Iterators Chapter 20: Introduction to LINQ What Is LINQ? LINQ Providers Anonymous Types Method Syntax and Query Syntax Query Variables The Structure of Query Expressions The from Clause The join Clause What Is a Join? The from ... let ... where Section in the Query Body The from Clause The let Clause The where Clause The orderby Clause The select . . . group Clause Anonymous Types in Queries The group Clause Query Continuation: The into Clause The Standard Query Operators Signatures of the Standard Query Operators Query Expressions and the Standard Query Operators Delegates As Parameters The LINQ Predefined Delegate Types Example Using a Delegate Parameter Example Using a Lambda Expression Parameter LINQ to XML Markup Languages XML Basics The XML Classes Creating, Saving, Loading, and Displaying an XML Document Creating an XML Tree Using Values from the XML Tree Adding Nodes and Manipulating XML Working with XML Attributes Other Types of Nodes XComment XDeclaration XProcessingInstruction Using LINQ Queries with LINQ to XML Chapter 21: Introduction to Asynchronous Programming What Is Asynchrony? A Starting Example The Structure of the async/await Feature What Is an async Method? The Flow of Control in an Async Method The await Expression Cancelling an async Operation Exception Handling and the await Expression Waiting Synchronously for Tasks in the Calling Method Waiting Asynchronously for Tasks in the async Method The Task.Delay Method Async Operations in GUI Programs Task.Yield Using an async Lambda Expression A Full GUI Example The BackgroundWorker Class Example of the BackgroundWorker Class in a WPF Program Parallel Loops Other Asynchronous Programming Patterns BeginInvoke and EndInvoke The Wait-Until-Done Pattern The AsyncResult Class The Polling Pattern The Callback Pattern The Callback Method Calling EndInvoke Inside the Callback Method Timers Chapter 22: Namespaces and Assemblies Referencing Other Assemblies The mscorlib Library Namespaces Namespace Names More About Namespaces Namespaces Spread Across Files Nesting Namespaces The using Directives The using Namespace Directive The using Alias Directive The using static Directive The Structure of an Assembly The Identity of an Assembly Strongly Named Assemblies Creating a Strongly Named Assembly Private Deployment of an Assembly Shared Assemblies and the GAC Installing Assemblies into the GAC Side-by-Side Execution in the GAC Configuration Files Delayed Signing Chapter 23: Exceptions What Are Exceptions? The try Statement Handling the Exception The Exception Classes The catch Clause Examples Using Specific catch Clauses Exception Filters The catch Clauses Section The finally Block Finding a Handler for an Exception Searching Further General Algorithm Example of Searching Down the Call Stack Throwing Exceptions Throwing Without an Exception Object Throw Expressions Chapter 24: Preprocessor Directives What Are Preprocessor Directives? General Rules The #define and #undef Directives Conditional Compilation The Conditional Compilation Constructs Diagnostic Directives Line Number Directives Region Directives The #pragma warning Directive Chapter 25: Reflection and Attributes Metadata and Reflection The Type Class Getting a Type Object What Is an Attribute? Applying an Attribute Predefined, Reserved Attributes The Obsolete Attribute The Conditional Attribute Example of the Conditional Attribute The Caller Information Attributes The DebuggerStepThrough Attribute Other Predefined Attributes More About Applying Attributes Multiple Attributes Other Types of Targets Global Attributes Custom Attributes Declaring a Custom Attribute Using Attribute Constructors Specifying the Constructor Using the Constructor Positional and Named Parameters in Constructors Restricting the Usage of an Attribute The Constructor for AttributeUsage Suggested Practices for Custom Attributes Accessing an Attribute Using the IsDefined Method Using the GetCustomAttributes Method Chapter 26: What’s New in C# 6 and 7 What’s New String Interpolation (C# 6.0) Auto-Property Initializers Read-Only Auto-Properties (C# 6.0) Expression-Bodied Members (C# 6.0 and 7.0) using static (C# 6.0) Null Conditional Operator (C# 6.0) Using await in catch and finally (C# 6.0) The nameof Operator (C# 6.0) Exception Filters (C# 6.0) Index Initializers (C# 6.0) Extension Methods for Collection Initializers (C# 6.0) Improved Overload Resolution (C# 6.0) ValueTuples (C# 7.0) Pattern Matching with is (C# 7.0) Pattern Matching with switch (C# 7.0) Custom Deconstruct (C# 7.0) Binary Literals and Numeric Separators (C# 7.0) Out Variables (C# 7.0) Local Functions (C# 7.0) Ref Locals (Ref Variables) and Ref Returns (C# 7.0) More Expression-Bodied Members (C# 7.0) Throw Expressions (C# 7.0) Expanded Async Return Types (C# 7.0) Chapter 27: Other Topics Overview Strings The StringBuilder Class Parsing Strings to Data Values More About the Nullable Types Assigning to a Nullable Type The Null Coalescing Operator The Null Conditional Operator Using Nullable User-Defined Types Nullable Method Main Accessibility of Main Documentation Comments Inserting Documentation Comments Using Other XML Tags Nested Types Example of a Nested Class Visibility and Nested Types Destructors and the Dispose Pattern The Standard Dispose Pattern Comparing Constructors and Destructors Tuples and ValueTuples Interoperating with COM Index Get to work quickly with C# with a uniquely succinct and visual format used to present the C# 7.0 language. Whether you’re getting to grips with C# for the first time or working to deepen your understanding, you’ll find this book to be a clear and refreshing take on each aspect of the language. Figures are of prime importance in this book. While teaching programming seminars, Daniel Solis found that he could almost watch the light bulbs going on over the students’ heads as he drew the figures on the whiteboard. In this text, he has distilled each important concept into simple but accurate illustrations. For this latest edition, Dan is joined by fellow experienced teacher and programmer, Cal Schrotenboer, to bring you the very latest C# language features, along with an understanding of the frameworks it most often lives in: .NET and the new .NET Core. For something as intricate and precise as a programming language, there must be text as well as figures. But rather than long, wordy explanations, the authors use short, concise descriptions and bullet lists to make each important piece of information visually distinct and memorable. -- Provided by publisher