Question

What are the differences between value types and reference types in C#? support your answer with examples.

Answer 1

Value types - Th value type is a data type which store the value in its own memory, means the variable in Value type directly contain their value.

For eg - int x= 50;

the system store 50 in the memory allocated for x variable , basically the memory that is given to x will have value 50 stored in it .

Example -

static void valueChange(int i)//it get value of i as 50
{
    i =  100;//i is initialized as 100

    Console.WriteLine(i);//print 100
}

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    int x = 50;

    Console.WriteLine(x); //PRINT 50
    
    valueChange(x);//PASS 50 TO FUNCTION valueChange 
    
    Console.WriteLine(x);//it will again print 50
}

Output -

50

100

50

whereas in Reference type - Reference type does not the value directly in the memory , instead of this it stores the address of where the value is stored in memory . Reference type basically contains a pointer to another memory location that holds the data.

static void changeValue(Car c2)//it point to same address where "BMW" is stored
{
    c2.carNAME = "Audi";//change it value to "Audi" at address where "BMW" was stored
}

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    Car c1= new Car();//initialize object 
    c1.carName= "BMW";//carName memory point to where "BMW" value is stored
    
    changeValue(c1);//pass it to function

    Console.WriteLine(c1.carName); //print Audi as OUTPUT
}

Output - Audi