C# Struct

In C#, a struct is a value type that is used to encapsulate small groups of related variables. It is similar to a class in terms of syntax but has some differences in usage and behavior. In this article, we will explore the concept of struct in C# with examples.

Defining a Struct

To define a struct in C#, we use the struct keyword followed by the name of the struct. Here's an example of a simple struct:

1struct Point
2{
3    public int X;
4    public int Y;
5}

In the above example, we have defined a struct named Point that has two public fields of type int named X and Y.

Note that by default, all fields in a struct are private. We have explicitly made them public in this example to make them accessible outside the struct.

Creating a Struct

To create a new instance of a struct, we use the new keyword followed by the name of the struct. Here's an example:

1Point p = new Point();
2p.X = 10;
3p.Y = 20;

In the above example, we have created a new instance of the Point struct using the new keyword and set the values of its fields.

Struct vs Class

One of the main differences between a struct and a class in C# is that a struct is a value type, while a class is a reference type. This means that when you create a struct, it is stored on the stack, while a class is stored on the heap.

Another difference is that a struct cannot inherit from another struct or class, and it cannot be inherited from. It also does not support inheritance, polymorphism, or virtual methods.

Example: Point Struct

Let's take a look at a more complete example of using a struct in C#:

1using System;
2
3struct Point
4{
5    public int X;
6    public int Y;
7
8    public Point(int x, int y)
9    {
10        X = x;
11        Y = y;
12    }
13
14    public void Print()
15    {
16        Console.WriteLine($"({X}, {Y})");
17    }
18}
19
20class Program
21{
22    static void Main(string[] args)
23    {
24        Point p1 = new Point(10, 20);
25        p1.Print();
26
27        Point p2 = new Point(30, 40);
28        p2.Print();
29    }
30}

In the above example, we have defined a struct named Point that has two public fields of type int named X and Y. We have also defined a constructor that takes two int arguments and sets the values of X and Y.

We have also defined a method named Print that prints the values of X and Y to the console.

In the Main method, we create two instances of the Point struct using the constructor and call the Print method on each instance.