C# Language Reference
C# Reference

This section provides reference material about C# keywords, operators, compiler errors, and warnings.

In This Section
C# Keywords

Provides links to information about C# keywords and syntax.

C# Operators

Provides links to information about C# operators and syntax.

C# Preprocessor Directives

Provides links to information about compiler commands for embedding in C# source code.

C# Compiler Options

Includes information about compiler options and how to use them.

C# Compiler Errors and Warnings

Includes code snippets that demonstrate the cause and correction of C# compiler errors and warnings.

C# Terminology

Provides a glossary of C# words and phrases.

C# Language Specification

Provides pointers to the latest version of the C# Language Specification in Microsoft Word format.
Related Sections
C# FAQ

Provides a growing list of C# Frequently Asked Questions in the C# Developer Center.

C# KB articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base

Opens a Microsoft search page for Knowledge Base articles that are available on MSDN.

Visual C#

Provides a portal to Visual C# documentation.

Visual C# Samples

Provides a list of Visual C# samples and instructions about how to locate them on the local disk.

Visual C# Code Editor Features

Provides links to conceptual and task topics that describe the IDE and Editor.

Writing Applications with Visual C#

Provides links to topics that describe how to do some common programming tasks.

C# Programming Guide

Includes information about how to use the C# programming language.

Tags : newbie


Community Content

Thomas Lee
Format of this presentation leaves something to be desired
Given that Microsoft seems to want the coding community to abandon C/C++ in favor of C#, evidence the fact that as time goes by there are fewer and fewer current, reliable C/C++ examples offered whilst C# examples abound. It would seem it would be to Microsoft's advantage to have more people become familiar with and learn C#, specifically as it pertains to Visual Studio and Visual Studio examples.

The current format of 'standalone' web pages with links leading to other 'standalone' pages is not very suitable for structured learning. And learning should always be structured, should it not? In the current presentation, blind alleys and endless loops are common. This is frustrating to the student, and not conducive to engendering in them a desire to 'forge ahead' into the adventure of learning.

I should think that in this case, as in many other cases in MSDN Library tomes, a more linear approach to linking (allowing jumping ahead and back, of course) would be of more benefit to the wouldbe scholar of C#. This is the approach used by most every other online reference on anything, not just programming languages. Whilst the 'free standing' model used by MSDN may be 'elegant' from a web information distribution theory vantage point, it is completely inelegant for practical learning. Add to this that the student is required to remain online whilst ferreting out the meaningful next branch in the learning tree, and you definitely have a system that's doomed to go largely unused and attract very few new users of C#, if any.

Having references, such as the C# Reference, encapsulated rather than cast adrift on the sea of MSDN Library web pages, would go a long way to attracting more individuals (and groups) to make use of them. Additionally, having that encapsulated reference available for download would entice a lot of true 'students', those in school who haven't the income or resources to spend long hours online in study.

I guess it all depends on what, exactly, MSDN wishes to accomplish by providing language references, especially for languages created by, fostered by, encouraged by, and standards for championed by Microsoft.

MM&I

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