What is the difference between char and Char?

Question

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What is the difference between String and string

When I run:

char c1 = 'a';
Console.WriteLine(c1);

and when I run:

Char c2 = 'a';
Console.WriteLine(c2);

I get exactly the same result, a.

I wanted to know what is the difference between the two forms, and why are there two forms?

Such questions can be self-answered. From your point above just go ahead with 'if(c1.GetType() == c2.GetType()){ MessageBox.Show("Same"!); }. Compare the getType()-output of both variables. The system will tell you the answer. ^^ — C4d, Sep 25 '14 at 12:20

score 12 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

12

The result is exactly the same. Both represent the same type, so the resulting executables are completely identical.

The char keyword is an alias in the C# language for the type System.Char in the framework.

You can always use the char keyword. To use Char you need a using System; at the top of the file to include the System namespace (or use System.Char to specify the namespace).

In most situations you can use either a keyword or the framework type, but not everywhere. For example as backing type in an enum, you can only use the keyword:

enum Test : int { } // works

enum Test : Int32 {} // doesn't work

(I use int in the example, as You can't use a char as backing type for an enum.)

Related: Difference between byte vs Byte data types in C#

edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

Community

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answered Aug 18 '12 at 23:10

Guffa

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Why the downvote? If you don't explain what it is that you think is wrong, it can't improve the answer. – Guffa Nov 15 '14 at 16:22
These are just aliases in C# ** object: System.Object ** string: System.String ** bool: System.Boolean ** byte: System.Byte ** sbyte: System.SByte ** short: System.Int16 ** ushort: System.UInt16 ** int: System.Int32 ** uint: System.UInt32 ** long: System.Int64 ** ulong: System.UInt64 ** float: System.Single ** double: System.Double ** decimal: System.Decimal ** char: System.Char ** – reza akhlaghi Aug 16 '17 at 05:15

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 18 '12 at 23:09

5

As far as I know, C# char type keyword is simply an alias for System.Char, so they refer to the same type.

answered Aug 18 '12 at 23:09

stakx - no longer contributing

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score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 18 '12 at 23:15

1

The keyword char is an alias of the System.Char type in C#.

edited Aug 18 '12 at 23:15

Ry-

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answered Aug 18 '12 at 23:10

HatSoft

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What is the difference between char and Char?

3 Answers3