What is C#?
C# is a multi-paradigm programming language that includes strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented, and component-oriented disciplines of programming. It was developed by Microsoft in its. NET initiative around 2000 and subsequently approved by Ecma and ISO as a standard.
History OF C# Language
In 1999, Anders Hejlsberg form a team to built a new language name COOL which stands for "C-like object oriented language". Microsoft has considered this name but due to some marketing unmarked reasons the name C# has been finalized.
It is the .Net initiative and was approved by European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) and International Standards Organization (ISO). C # is one of the common language infrastructure languages.
During the development period of .Net framework the class library which are originally written using a managed code compiler system called as SMC (Simplified Managed C). All the class libraries and ASP.net runtime had been ported to C# from SMC.
Why #(Hash) called Sharp here?
Actually, this #(Hash) was inspired by musical node Sharp (represented as # in musical term) which means higher in pitch. The (#) resembles four plus (++++) symbols which tells that this language is an increment of C++ language. Due to the technical limitation of display of standard forms and the fact # symbol is not present on most keyboard layouts that’s why hash (#) symbol was choosen to approximate Sharp symbol.
Many developers thinks that C# is the imitation of java language but James Gosling (creator of java) specifies that C# language is same as java language with addition of more reliability and productivity features but has less security than java.
C# language = java with reliability + production - security.
but when the language first introduced in year 2000, it comes to know that C# is not the java clone instead of that it was more likely to be close with C++ language in design and it is clear with its name only.
Why Use C#?
C # has a lot of other reasons to be popular and demanding. Few of the reasons are mentioned below:
Easy to start: C #is a language of high standard. It is therefore closer to other popular programming languages such as C, C++, and Java, making it easier for anyone to learn.
C # is widely used to develop desktop and web applications: It is widely used to develop web applications and desktop applications. It is one of the most frequently used languages in the professional desktop. If anyone want to create Microsoft application then C# is the go to language.
Community: The larger the community the better it is as new tools and software will be developing to make it better. C #has a large community so developments are made to make it exist in the system and not extinct.
Game Development: C# is widely used in the development of games and will continue to dominate. C# joins Microsoft and therefore has a large target audience. The C# features such as collection of automatic garbage, interfaces, object-oriented etc. makes C# a popular game developing language.
Advantages of C# language
- C# is very efficient in managing the system. All the garbage is automatically collected in C#.
- There is no problem of memory leak in C# because of its high memory backup.
- Cost of maintenance is less and is safer to run as compared to other languages.
- C# code is compiled to an intermediate language (Common (.Net) Intermediate Language) which is a standard language, independently irrespective of the target operating system and architecture.
Disadvantages of C# language
C# is less flexible as it depends a lot on .Net framework.
Applications of C# language
- C# is widely used for developing desktop applications, web applications and web services.
- It is used in creating applications of Microsoft at a large scale.
- C# is also used in game development in Unity.
Programming Features of C#
- Boolean Conditions
- Automatic Garbage Collection
- Standard Library
- Assembly Versioning
- Properties and Events
- Delegates and Events Management
- Easy-to-use Generics
- Indexers
- Conditional Compilation
- Simple Multithreading
- LINQ and Lambda Expressions
- Integration with Windows