Preparing for a C# interview can be challenging, especially when you want to stand out and demonstrate a strong grasp of the language's fundamentals and advanced features. This article compiles the top 20 most commonly asked C# interview questions and provides clear, concise answers to help you understand and articulate key concepts confidently. From object-oriented programming principles and SOLID design patterns to asynchronous programming and LINQ, this guide covers a comprehensive range of topics. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, these questions and answers will equip you with the insights needed to succeed in your next technical interview.
What is the difference between value types and reference types in C#?
Answer:
Value Types:
Stored in the stack.
Contain the actual data.
Examples: int, double, bool, struct, enum.
When assigned to a new variable, a copy is made.
Reference Types:
Stored in the heap.
Contain a reference to the data.
Examples: class, interface, delegate, object, string.
When assigned to a new variable, the reference is copied, not the object itself.
Example:
int a = 5;
int b = a;
Person person1 = new Person();
Person person2 = person1;
Explain the concept of delegates in C#.
Answer:
A delegate is a type that represents references to methods with a specific parameter list and return type. It's similar to a function pointer in C++ but type-safe. Delegates are used to pass methods as arguments to other methods.
Example:
public delegate int MathOperation(int x, int y);
public int Add(int a, int b) => a + b;
MathOperation operation = Add;
int result = operation(3, 4);
What are events in C#, and how are they related to delegates?
Answer:
Events are a way for a class to notify other classes or objects when something happens. They are based on delegates and provide a layer of abstraction and safety.
Example:
public class Publisher
{
public event EventHandler OnChange;
public void RaiseEvent()
{
OnChange?.Invoke(this, EventArgs.Empty);
}
}
public class Subscriber
{
public void Subscribe(Publisher publisher)
{
publisher.OnChange += HandleChange;
}
private void HandleChange(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("Event received.");
}
}
What is LINQ, and why is it useful?
Answer:
LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is a set of features that adds query capabilities to .NET languages. It allows querying collections using a SQL-like syntax. LINQ provides:
Consistency across different data sources.
Strongly typed queries with IntelliSense support.
Improved readability and maintainability.
Example:
var numbers = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
var evenNumbers = from num in numbers
where num % 2 == 0
select num;
Explain async and await keywords in C# and how asynchronous programming works.
Answer:
async keyword: Marks a method as asynchronous, allowing it to use await to suspend execution until an awaited task completes.
await keyword: Pauses the execution of the async method until the awaited task is complete.
Asynchronous programming allows applications to remain responsive by performing tasks without blocking the main thread.
Example:
public async Task<string> FetchDataAsync()
{
HttpClient client = new HttpClient();
string data = await client.GetStringAsync("https://api.example.com/data");
return data;
}
What is garbage collection in C#, and how does it work?
Answer:
Garbage Collection (GC) is an automatic memory management feature that reclaims memory occupied by objects that are no longer in use. The GC runs on a separate thread and identifies unreferenced objects to free up memory, reducing memory leaks and fragmentation.
What are extension methods, and how do you define them?
Answer:
Extension methods allow adding new methods to existing types without modifying the original type or creating a new derived type. They are defined as static methods in a static class, with the this keyword preceding the first parameter.
Example:
public static class StringExtensions
{
public static bool IsCapitalized(this string str)
{
if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(str)) return false;
return char.IsUpper(str[0]);
}
}
string word = "Hello";
bool isCapitalized = word.IsCapitalized();
What is the difference between const and readonly in C#?
Answer:
Example:
public class MyClass
{
public const int ConstValue = 10;
public readonly int ReadOnlyValue;
public MyClass(int value)
{
ReadOnlyValue = value;
}
}
Explain boxing and unboxing in C#.
Answer:
Boxing: The process of converting a value type to a reference type (object). The value is wrapped inside an object and stored on the heap.
Unboxing: The reverse process of extracting the value type from the object.
Example:
int number = 42;
object obj = number;
int unboxedNumber = (int)obj;
What is the difference between abstract classes and sealed classes in C#?
Answer:
abstract class:
sealed class:
Explain what generics are and their benefits.
Answer:
Generics allow the creation of classes, methods, and structures with placeholders for the type of data they store or use. Benefits include:
Type Safety: Errors are caught at compile time.
Performance: Eliminates the need for boxing/unboxing.
Code Reusability: Write code that works with any data type.
Example:
public class GenericList<T>
{
private T[] items;
}
GenericList<int> intList = new GenericList<int>();
What is the purpose of the dynamic keyword in C#?
Answer:
The dynamic keyword tells the compiler to bypass compile-time type checking for a variable. Instead, the type is resolved at runtime. This is useful when interacting with dynamic languages, COM objects, or reflection.
Example:
dynamic obj = GetDynamicObject();
obj.SomeMethod();
What is the difference between IEnumerable and IQueryable?
Answer:
IEnumerable:
Namespace: System.Collections
Executes queries in-memory.
Suitable for querying in-memory collections like lists and arrays.
LINQ to Objects.
IQueryable:
Namespace: System.Linq
Allows for remote query execution, like in a database.
Suitable for querying external data sources.
LINQ to SQL, LINQ to Entities.
Explain the purpose of partial classes and methods.
Answer:
Partial Classes:
Allow a class to be split across multiple files.
Useful for separating auto-generated code from developer-written code.
All parts must use the partial keyword and be in the same namespace.
Partial Methods:
Declared within partial classes.
Allow method declarations without implementation.
If no implementation is provided, the method and its calls are removed at compile time.
Example:
public partial class SampleClass
{
partial void OnSomethingHappened();
}
public partial class SampleClass
{
partial void OnSomethingHappened()
{
}
}
What are anonymous types in C#?
Answer:
Anonymous types provide a convenient way to encapsulate a set of read-only properties into a single object without explicitly defining a type.
Example:
var person = new { Name = "Alice", Age = 30 };
Console.WriteLine(person.Name);
What is the difference between throw and throw ex in exception handling?
Answer:
throw:
throw ex:
Creates a new exception object.
Resets the stack trace, making it harder to trace the origin of the exception.
Example:
try
{
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
throw;
}
What is the purpose of the yield keyword in C#?
Answer:
The yield keyword simplifies the implementation of iterator methods. It allows methods to return elements one at a time without the need to create an intermediate collection.
Example:
public IEnumerable<int> GenerateNumbers()
{
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
yield return i;
}
}
foreach (var num in GenerateNumbers())
{
Console.WriteLine(num);
}
Explain the concept of nullable types and how to use them.
Answer:
Nullable types allow value types to represent null values. They are declared using the ? suffix.
Example:
int? nullableInt = null;
if (nullableInt.HasValue)
{
Console.WriteLine(nullableInt.Value);
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("Value is null");
}
What are async lambdas, and how are they used?
Answer:
async lambdas are anonymous functions that are marked with the async keyword, allowing the use of await within them. They are useful in asynchronous programming, especially with event handlers and delegates.
Example:
Func<Task> asyncOperation = async () =>
{
await Task.Delay(1000);
Console.WriteLine("Operation completed");
};
await asyncOperation();
What is a Task in C#, and how is it different from a Thread?
Answer:
Task:
Represents an asynchronous operation.
Managed by the Task Parallel Library (TPL).
Uses the thread pool for efficient resource utilization.
Supports continuations and can return results.
Thread:
Represents a separate path of execution.
More resource-intensive.
Managed directly by the operating system.
Less flexible for asynchronous programming.
Example:
Task.Run(() => DoWork());
Thread thread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(DoWork));
thread.Start();
- Tasks are preferred in modern asynchronous programming due to their simplicity and efficiency.
These questions cover a range of essential topics in C#, from basic concepts to advanced features. Reviewing them will help solidify your understanding and prepare you for common questions in a C# interview. Make sure to understand not just the answers but also the underlying concepts, as interviewers may ask follow-up questions or require you to provide examples.
