An awesome C# (CSharp) cheatsheet.
CHEATSHEET C#
1. Data Types
Primitive Size Example
String 2 bytes/char s = "reference";
bool b = true;
char 2 bytes ch = 'a';
byte 1 byte b = 0x78;
short 2 bytes val = 70;
int 4 bytes val = 700;
long 8 bytes val = 70;
float 4 bytes val = 70.0F;
double 8 bytes val = 70.0D;
decimal 16 bytes val = 70.0M;
2. Arrays
2.1 Declaration
//Initialized using a list defined with curly braces
int[] nameArray = {100, 101, 102};
//Define an empty array
int[] nameArray = new int[3]; // 3 rows and 2 columns
//To access a specific item in the array
int[] nameArray = new int[10];
int firstNumber = nameArray[0];
nameArray[1] = 20;
//Multidimensional arrays
int [,] matrix = new int [2,2]
matrix[0,0] = 1;
matrix[0,1] = 2;
matrix[1,0] = 3;
matrix[1,1] = 4;
int[,] predefinedMatrix = new int[2,2] { { 1, 2 }, { 3, 4 } };
2.2 Array Operations
//Sort ascending
Array.Sort(nameArray);
//Sort begins at element 6 and sorts 20 elements
Array.Sort(nameArray,6,20);
//Use 1 array as a key & sort 2 arrays
string[] values = {"Juan", "Victor", "Elena"};
string[] keys = {"Jimenez", "Martin", "Ortiz"};
Array.Sort(keys, values);
//Clear elements in array (array, first element, # elements)
Array.Clear(nameArray, 0, nameArray.Length);
//Copy elements from one array to another
Array.Copy(scr, target, numOfElements);
3. String Operations
//To concatenate between strings, use the plus operator:
string firstName = "Erin";
string lastName = "Roger";
string fullName = firstName + " " + lastName;
//To add one string to another, use the += operator:
string secondLastName = "Green";
string fullName += secondLastName;
//ToString function
//It converts an object to its string representation so that it is suitable for display
Object.ToString();
//String formatting
//Each additional argument to the function can be referred to in the string using the brackets operator with the index number.
String.Format(String format, Object arg0);
format - A composite format string that includes one or more format items
arg0 - The first or only object to format
//Substring
//Returns a part of the string, beginning from the index specified as the argument. Substring also accepts a maximum length for the substring
String.Substring(beginAt);
String.Substring(beginAt, maximum);
//Replace
string newStr = oldStr.Replace("old","new");
//IndexOf
//Finds the first occurrence of a string in a larger string
//Returns -1 if the string is not found
String.IndexOf(val, start, num)
val - string to search for
start - where to begin in string
//LastIndexOf
//Search from end of string
//Split
//Split is used to break delimited string into substrings
String.Split(Char[]);
//ToCharArray
//Places selected characters in a string in a char array
String str = "AaBbCcDd";
//create array of 8 vowels
var chars = str.ToCharArray();
//create array of 'B' and 'C'
var chars = str.ToCharArray(2,2);
4. System.Text.StringBuilder
4.1 Constructor
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(myString);
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(myString, capacity);
myString - Initial value of StringBuilder object
capacity - Initial size of buffer
5. DateTime
5.1 DateTime Constructor
DateTime(year, month, day)
DateTime(year, month, day, hour, minute, second)
DateTime newYear = DateTime.Parse("1/1/2018"):
DateTime currentDate = DateTime.Now;
DateTime nextYear = DateTime.AddYears(1);
6. TimeSpan
6.1 TimeSpan Constructor
TimpeSpan(hour, minute, sec)
TimeSpan timeS = new TimeSpan(10, 14, 50);
TimeSpan timeS_Hours = TimeSpan.FromDays(3640);
7. Formatting Values
Format item syntax: {index[,alignment][:format string]}
index - Specifies element in list of values to which format is applied
alignment - Indicates minimum width (in characters) to display value
format string - Contains the code which specifies the format of the displayed value
7.1 Numeric
Format Name Pattern Value Result
C or c Currency {0:C2}, 1000.1 $ 1000.1 A currency value
D or d Decimal {0:D5}, 30 00030 Integer digits with optional negative sign
E or e Exponential {0,9:E2}, 120.2 1.20+E002 Exponential notation
F or f Fixed-point {0,9:F2}, 120.2 120.2 Integral and decimal digits with optional negative sign
G or g General {0,9:G2}, 120.2 120.2 The more compact of either fixed-point or scientific notation
N or n Number {0,9:N1}, 1300.5 1,300,5 Integral and decimal digits, group separators, and a decimal separator with optional negative sign
P or p Percent {0,9:P3}, .0903 9.03% Number multiplied by 100 and displayed with a percent symbol
R or r Round-trip {0,9:R}, 3.1416 3.1316 A string that can round-trip to an identical number
X or x Hexadecimal {0,9:X4}, 31 001f A hexadecimal string
8. C# compiler at the Command Line
csc File.cs -> Compiles Files.cs producing File.exe
csc -target:library File.cs -> Compiles File.cs producing File.dll
csc -out:My.exe File.cs -> Compiles File.cs and creates My.exe
csc -define:DEBUG -optimize -out:File2.exe *.cs -> Compiles all the C# files in the current directory with optimizations enabled and defines the DEBUG symbol. The output is File2.exe
csc -target:library -out:File2.dll -warn:0 -nologo -debug *.cs -> Compiles all the C# files in the current directory producing a debug version of File2.dll. No logo and no warnings are displayed
csc -target:library -out:Something.xyz *.cs -> Compiles all the C# files in the current directory to Something.xyz (a DLL)
8.1 Compiler Options Listed
Option Purpose
@ Reads a response file for more options.
-? Displays a usage message to stdout.
-additionalfile Names additional files that don't directly affect code generation but may be used by analyzers for producing errors or warnings.
-addmodule Links the specified modules into this assembly
-analyzer Run the analyzers from this assembly (Short form: -a)
-appconfig Specifies the location of app.config at assembly binding time.
-baseaddress Specifies the base address for the library to be built.
-bugreport Creates a 'Bug Report' file. This file will be sent together with any crash information if it is used with -errorreport:prompt or -errorreport:send.
-checked Causes the compiler to generate overflow checks.
-checksumalgorithm:<alg> Specifies the algorithm for calculating the source file checksum stored in PDB. Supported values are: SHA1 (default) or SHA256.
-codepage Specifies the codepage to use when opening source files.
-debug Emits debugging information.
-define Defines conditional compilation symbols.
-delaysign Delay-signs the assembly by using only the public part of the strong name key.
-deterministic Causes the compiler to output an assembly whose binary content is identical across compilations if inputs are identical.
-doc Specifies an XML Documentation file to generate.
-errorreport Specifies how to handle internal compiler errors: prompt, send, or none. The default is none.
-filealign Specifies the alignment used for output file sections.
-fullpaths Causes the compiler to generate fully qualified paths.
-help Displays a usage message to stdout.
-highentropyva Specifies that high entropy ASLR is supported.
-incremental Enables incremental compilation [obsolete].
-keycontainer Specifies a strong name key container.
-keyfile Specifies a strong name key file.
-langversion:<string> Specify language version: Default, ISO-1, ISO-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, or Latest
-lib Specifies additional directories in which to search for references.
-link Makes COM type information in specified assemblies available to the project.
-linkresource Links the specified resource to this assembly.
-main Specifies the type that contains the entry point (ignore all other possible entry points).
-moduleassemblyname Specifies an assembly whose non-public types a .netmodule can access.
-modulename:<string> Specify the name of the source module.
-noconfig Instructs the compiler not to auto include CSC.RSP file.
-nologo Suppresses compiler copyright message.
-nostdlib Instructs the compiler not to reference standard library (mscorlib.dll).
-nowarn Disables specific warning messages
-nowin32manifest Instructs the compiler not to embed an application manifest in the executable file.
-optimize Enables/disables optimizations.
-out Specifies the output file name (default: base name of file with main class or first file).
-parallel[+|-] Specifies whether to use concurrent build (+).
-pathmap Specifies a mapping for source path names output by the compiler.
-pdb Specifies the file name and location of the .pdb file.
-platform Limits which platforms this code can run on: x86, Itanium, x64, anycpu, or anycpu32bitpreferred. The default is anycpu.
-preferreduilang Specifies the language to be used for compiler output.
-publicsign Apply a public key without signing the assembly, but set the bit in the assembly indicating the assembly is signed.
-recurse Includes all files in the current directory and subdirectories according to the wildcard specifications.
-reference References metadata from the specified assembly files.
-refout Generate a reference assembly in addition to the primary assembly.
-refonly Generate a reference assembly instead of a primary assembly.
-resource Embeds the specified resource.
-ruleset:<file> Specify a ruleset file that disables specific diagnostics.
-subsystemversion Specifies the minimum version of the subsystem that the executable file can use.
-target Specifies the format of the output file by using one of four options: -target:appcontainerexe, -target:exe, -target:library, -target:module, -target:winexe, -target:winmdobj.
-unsafe Allows unsafe code.
-utf8output Outputs compiler messages in UTF-8 encoding.
-warn Sets the warning level (0-4).
-warnaserror Reports specific warnings as errors.
-win32icon Uses this icon for the output.
-win32manifest Specifies a custom win32 manifest file.
-win32res Specifies the win32 resource file (.res).
9. Control flow statements
9.1 Switch
switch (expression) {
//expression may be integer, string or enum
case expression:
//statements
break/ goto / return()
case ..
default
//statements
break/ goto / return()
}
9.2 If
if (condition) {
//statements
} else {
//statements
}
10. Loop
10.1 While
while (condition) {body}
10.2 Do while
do {body} while condition;
10.3 For
for (initializer; termination condition; iteration;) {
//statements
}
10.4 For each
foreach (type identifier in collection) {
//statements
}
11. Class Definition
11.1 Class
public | protected | internal | private
abstract | sealed | static
class className [:class/interfaces inherited from]
11.2 Constructor
[access modifier] className (parameters) [:initializer]
initializer -base calls constructor in base class.
this calls constructor within class.
public class nameClass : Initializer {
public className(dataType param1 , dataType param2, ...) : base(param1, param2)
{ constructor body }
}
11.3 Method
[access modifier]
static | virtual | override | new | sealed | abstract
methodName (parameter list) { body }
virtual --- method can be overridden in subclass
override --- overrides virtual method in base class
new --- hides non-virtual method in base class
sealed --- prevents derived class from inheriting
abstract --- must be implemented by subclass
Passing parameters:
1. By default, parameters are passed by value
2. Passing by reference: ref, in and out modifiers
To pass a parameter by reference with the intent of changing the value, use
the ref, or out keyword. To pass by reference with the intent of avoiding
copying but not changing the value, use the in modifier
11.4 Property
[modifier] <dataType> property name{
public string BrandName
{
get { return brandName; }
set { brandName = value; }
}
}
12. Struct
12.1 Defining a structure
[attribute][modifier] struct name [:interfaces] { struct-body }
12.2 Class vs Structure
-> Classes are reference types and structs are value types
-> Structures do not support inheritance
-> Structures cannot have default constructor
13. Enum
13.1 Declaring enum variable
menu <enumName> {
enumeration list
};
enumName - Specifies the enumeration type name
enumeration list is a comma-separated list of identifiers
//Each of the symbols in the enumeration list stands for an integer value, one greater than the symbol that precedes it.
14. Delegates
//A delegate is a reference type variable that holds the reference to a method. The reference can be changed at runtime.
14.1 Declaring delegates
//Delegate declaration determines the methods that can be referenced by the delegate.
delegate <return type> <delegate-name> <parameter list>
14.2 Instantiating delegates
//When creating a delegate, the argument passed to the new expression is written similar to a method call, but without the arguments to the method
public delegate void printString(string s);
printString ps1 = new printString(WriteToScreen);
printString ps2 = new printString(WriteToFile);
15. Events
15.1 Declaring events
//To declare an event inside a class, first a delegate type for the event must be declared.
public delegate string MyDelegate(string str);
//The event itself is declared by using the event keyword
event MyDelegate MyEvent;
15.2 Commonly used Control Events
Event Delegate
Click, MouseEnter, DoubleClick, MouseLeave EventHandler( object sender, EventArgs e)
MouseDown, Mouseup, MouseMove MouseEventHandler(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
e.X, e.Y --- x and y coordinates
e.Button --- MouseButton.Left, Middle, Right
KeyUp, KeyDown KeyEventHandler(object sndr, KeyEventArgs e)
e.Handled --- Indicates whether event is handled.
e.KeyCode --- Keys enumeration, e.g., Keys.V
e.Modifiers --- Indicates if Alt, Ctrl, or Shift key.
KeyPress KeyPressEventHandler(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)