Static Constructors
A static constructor is used to initialize a class. It is called automatically to initialize the class before the first instance is created or any static members are referenced. It is declared using the following form:
[attributes] static identifier( ) { constructor-body }
where:
- attributes (Optional)
- Additional declarative information. For more information on attributes and attribute classes, see C# Attributes.
- identifier
- The identifier is the same as the class name.
- constructor-body
- The block that contains the statements that initialize the class.
Remarks
A static constructor does not take access modifiers or have parameters.
A static constructor is called automatically to initialize the class before the first instance is created or any static members are referenced.
A static constructor cannot be called directly.
The user has no control on when the static constructor is executed in the program.
A typical use of static constructors is when the class is using a log file and the constructor is used to write entries to this file.
Example
In this example, the class MyClass has a static constructor and one static member, MyMethod(). When MyMethod() is called, the static constructor is invoked to initialize the class.
// StaticCtor1.cs
using System;
class MyClass
{
// Static constructor:
static MyClass()
{
Console.WriteLine("The static constructor invoked.");
}
public static void MyMethod()
{
Console.WriteLine("MyMethod invoked.");
}
}
class MainClass
{
static void Main()
{
MyClass.MyMethod();
}
}
Output
The static constructor invoked. MyMethod invoked.
For more information and examples of static constructors, see 1.7.10 Static constructors and 10.11 Static constructors.
