C# Language Primer

This section is a refresher course designed to help remind you of some basic programming concepts, and help you get up to speed in practical C# coding skills. Read through the following sections, write and compile some simple programs using the code examples as a guide, and you'll soon know enough C# to start writing your own applications.

This language primer contains the following topics:

• Inside a C# Program (Visual C#)
  Hello World examined in detail.

• Program Structure and Flow of Execution
  How execution flow differs in typical Windows and console applications.

• Namespaces
  Keeping your projects organized.

• Classes
  Introduction to object orientated programming and classes.

• Structs
  Creating your own lightweight data types.

• Variables and Constants
  Storing data inside your program.

• Operators
  Perform calculations and tests on your data.

• Decisions and Branching
  Enabling your program to make decisions.

• Strings
  Storing and manipulating text.

• Arrays and Collections
  Storing data in easily accessed data collections.

• Loops
  Going around in circles, and breaking out of them.

• Enumerations
  A useful, and unique, data type.

• Errors and Exception Handling
  Catching errors before they stop your program.

For More Information

• C# Programming Guide

• How to: Build a C# Application in 60 Seconds

• How to: Create a C# Console Application

• How to: Create a C# Windows Forms Application

See Also

Concepts

C# Programming Guide

Other Resources

Visual C# Express

Getting Started with Visual C# Express

Using the Visual C# Express IDE

C# Reference