C# (pronounced "C-sharp") is a modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft. It's part of the .NET framework and offers a powerful, type-safe approach to software development.

Key Features of C#

Strong typing
Object-oriented programming
Component-oriented
Garbage collection
Cross-platform development

Getting Started with C#

To begin programming in C#, you'll need to set up your development environment. This typically involves installing Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code with the .NET SDK.

Basic Syntax

C# syntax is similar to other C-style languages. Here's a simple "Hello, World!" program:


using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
    }
}

Let's break down this example:

using System; imports the System namespace.
The class Program defines the main class of our program.
static void Main() is the entry point of the application.
Console.WriteLine() outputs text to the console.

Variables and Data Types

C# is a strongly-typed language, meaning you must declare a variable's type before using it. Common data types include:

int for integers
double for floating-point numbers
string for text
bool for boolean values

Here's an example of declaring and using variables:


int age = 25;
string name = "John";
bool isStudent = true;

Console.WriteLine($"Name: {name}, Age: {age}, Is Student: {isStudent}");

Control Structures

C# supports various control structures for decision-making and looping:

If-Else Statements

Use if-else statements for conditional execution:


if (age >= 18)
{
    Console.WriteLine("You are an adult.");
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine("You are a minor.");
}

Loops

C# offers several types of loops, including for loops, while loops, and foreach loops:


// For loop
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
    Console.WriteLine(i);
}

// While loop
int j = 0;
while (j < 5)
{
    Console.WriteLine(j);
    j++;
}

// Foreach loop
string[] fruits = { "apple", "banana", "orange" };
foreach (string fruit in fruits)
{
    Console.WriteLine(fruit);
}

Object-Oriented Programming

C# is an object-oriented language, supporting concepts like classes and objects, inheritance, and polymorphism. Here's a simple class example:


class Person
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Age { get; set; }

    public void Introduce()
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Hi, I'm {Name} and I'm {Age} years old.");
    }
}

// Usage
Person person = new Person { Name = "Alice", Age = 30 };
person.Introduce();

Next Steps

As you continue your C# journey, explore these important topics:

With this introduction, you're ready to start your C# programming journey. Practice regularly, explore the documentation, and don't hesitate to experiment with different concepts to deepen your understanding.