C # (pronounced “C Sharp”) is a programming language developed by Microsoft.
It was introduced in 2002 as version 1.0 in Microsoft’s .NET Framework. Since then, C # has gone through many revisions, which happen with every .NET update.
Today, it is one of the very popular programming languages used to create Windows programs and web applications.
C# is a derivative of the C programming language. It is very similar to C ++. While it uses some basic operators like C ++, it is also object-oriented, case sensitive, and the same syntax is often found in it.
But still, there are many differences between C# and C ++. Let us understand them with examples.
- Arrays in C ++ are called pointers, while in C #, these are objects that have methods and properties.
- It does not recognize the bool (boolean) data type as an integer like in C ++.
- The keywords typedef, extern, and static all have different meanings in C #, completely different in C ++.
- C # switch statements do not support fall-through from one case to another.
- Global methods and variables are not supported in C #, whereas they are done in C ++.
Most importantly, C # is specially designed for Microsoft’s .NET Framework. Therefore, it allows developers to use all the features offered by the .NET API.
But it also means that C # applications can only run in platforms that support .NET runtimes, such as Windows, Windows Server, and Windows Phone.
At the same time, you want to run programs written in C # on one of their other platforms; then, in such a way, these codes have to be compiled using a conversion tool such as Microsoft .NET Native.
NOTE The name “C #” originates from the musical note “C♯,” which indicates that this step-up took place from the original version of C. This ♯ symbol is also made up of four-plus signs, implying that C # is more advanced than C ++.
