book

C# 7.0 in a Nutshell

by Joseph Albahari, Ben Albahari

October 2017

Intermediate to advanced

1087 pages

27h 8m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Intended AudienceHow This Book Is OrganizedWhat You Need to Use This BookConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesO’Reilly SafariWe’d Like to Hear from YouAcknowledgmentsJoseph AlbahariBen Albahari
Object OrientationType SafetyMemory ManagementPlatform SupportC# and the CLRThe CLR and .NET FrameworkOther FrameworksLegacy and Niche FrameworksWindows RuntimeA Brief History of C#What’s New in C# 7.0What’s New in C# 6.0What’s New in C# 5.0What’s New in C# 4.0What’s New in C# 3.0What’s New in C# 2.0
A First C# ProgramCompilationSyntaxIdentifiers and KeywordsLiterals, Punctuators, and OperatorsCommentsType BasicsPredefined Type ExamplesCustom Type ExamplesConversionsValue Types Versus Reference TypesPredefined Type TaxonomyNumeric TypesNumeric LiteralsNumeric ConversionsArithmetic OperatorsIncrement and Decrement OperatorsSpecialized Operations on Integral Types8- and 16-Bit Integral TypesSpecial Float and Double Valuesdouble Versus decimalReal Number Rounding ErrorsBoolean Type and OperatorsBool ConversionsEquality and Comparison OperatorsConditional OperatorsStrings and CharactersChar ConversionsString TypeArraysDefault Element InitializationMultidimensional ArraysSimplified Array Initialization ExpressionsBounds CheckingVariables and ParametersThe Stack and the HeapDefinite AssignmentDefault ValuesParametersRef Locals (C# 7)Ref Returns (C# 7)var—Implicitly Typed Local VariablesExpressions and OperatorsPrimary ExpressionsVoid ExpressionsAssignment ExpressionsOperator Precedence and AssociativityOperator TableNull OperatorsNull Coalescing OperatorNull-conditional Operator (C# 6)StatementsDeclaration StatementsExpression StatementsSelection StatementsIteration StatementsJump StatementsMiscellaneous StatementsNamespacesThe using Directiveusing static (C# 6)Rules Within a NamespaceAliasing Types and NamespacesAdvanced Namespace Features
ClassesFieldsMethodsInstance ConstructorsDeconstructors (C# 7)Object InitializersThe this ReferencePropertiesIndexersConstantsStatic ConstructorsStatic ClassesFinalizersPartial Types and MethodsThe nameof Operator (C# 6)InheritancePolymorphismCasting and Reference ConversionsVirtual Function MembersAbstract Classes and Abstract MembersHiding Inherited MembersSealing Functions and ClassesThe base KeywordConstructors and InheritanceOverloading and ResolutionThe object TypeBoxing and UnboxingStatic and Runtime Type CheckingThe GetType Method and typeof OperatorThe ToString MethodObject Member ListingStructsStruct Construction SemanticsAccess ModifiersExamplesFriend AssembliesAccessibility CappingRestrictions on Access ModifiersInterfacesExtending an InterfaceExplicit Interface ImplementationImplementing Interface Members VirtuallyReimplementing an Interface in a SubclassInterfaces and BoxingEnumsEnum ConversionsFlags EnumsEnum OperatorsType-Safety IssuesNested TypesGenericsGeneric TypesWhy Generics ExistGeneric MethodsDeclaring Type Parameterstypeof and Unbound Generic TypesThe default Generic ValueGeneric ConstraintsSubclassing Generic TypesSelf-Referencing Generic DeclarationsStatic DataType Parameters and ConversionsCovarianceContravarianceC# Generics Versus C++ Templates
DelegatesWriting Plug-in Methods with DelegatesMulticast DelegatesInstance Versus Static Method TargetsGeneric Delegate TypesThe Func and Action DelegatesDelegates Versus InterfacesDelegate CompatibilityEventsStandard Event PatternEvent AccessorsEvent ModifiersLambda ExpressionsExplicitly Specifying Lambda Parameter TypesCapturing Outer VariablesLambda Expressions Versus Local MethodsAnonymous Methodstry Statements and ExceptionsThe catch ClauseThe finally BlockThrowing ExceptionsKey Properties of System.ExceptionCommon Exception TypesThe TryXXX Method PatternAlternatives to ExceptionsEnumeration and IteratorsEnumerationCollection InitializersIteratorsIterator SemanticsComposing SequencesNullable TypesNullable<T> StructImplicit and Explicit Nullable ConversionsBoxing and Unboxing Nullable ValuesOperator Liftingbool? with & and | OperatorsNullable Types and Null OperatorsScenarios for Nullable TypesAlternatives to Nullable TypesExtension MethodsExtension Method ChainingAmbiguity and ResolutionAnonymous TypesTuples (C# 7)Naming Tuple ElementsValueTuple.CreateDeconstructing TuplesEquality ComparisonThe System.Tuple ClassesAttributesAttribute ClassesNamed and Positional Attribute ParametersAttribute TargetsSpecifying Multiple AttributesCaller Info AttributesDynamic BindingStatic Binding Versus Dynamic BindingCustom BindingLanguage BindingRuntimeBinderExceptionRuntime Representation of DynamicDynamic Conversionsvar Versus dynamicDynamic ExpressionsDynamic Calls Without Dynamic ReceiversStatic Types in Dynamic ExpressionsUncallable FunctionsOperator OverloadingOperator FunctionsOverloading Equality and Comparison OperatorsCustom Implicit and Explicit ConversionsOverloading true and falseUnsafe Code and PointersPointer BasicsUnsafe CodeThe fixed StatementThe Pointer-to-Member OperatorArraysvoid*Pointers to Unmanaged CodePreprocessor DirectivesConditional AttributesPragma WarningXML DocumentationStandard XML Documentation TagsUser-Defined TagsType or Member Cross-References
.NET Standard 2.0Older .NET StandardsReference AssembliesThe CLR and Core FrameworkSystem TypesText ProcessingCollectionsQueriesXMLDiagnosticsConcurrency and AsynchronyStreams and I/ONetworkingSerializationAssemblies, Reflection, and AttributesDynamic ProgrammingSecurityAdvanced ThreadingParallel ProgrammingApplication DomainsNative and COM InteroperabilityApplied TechnologiesUser-Interface APIsBackend TechnologiesDistributed System Technologies
String and Text HandlingCharStringComparing StringsStringBuilderText Encodings and UnicodeDates and TimesTimeSpanDateTime and DateTimeOffsetDates and Time ZonesDateTime and Time ZonesDateTimeOffset and Time ZonesTimeZone and TimeZoneInfoDaylight Saving Time and DateTimeFormatting and ParsingToString and ParseFormat ProvidersStandard Format Strings and Parsing FlagsNumeric Format StringsNumberStylesDate/Time Format StringsDateTimeStylesEnum Format StringsOther Conversion MechanismsConvertXmlConvertType ConvertersBitConverterGlobalizationGlobalization ChecklistTestingWorking with NumbersConversionsMathBigIntegerComplexRandomEnumsEnum ConversionsEnumerating Enum ValuesHow Enums WorkThe Guid StructEquality ComparisonValue Versus Referential EqualityStandard Equality ProtocolsEquality and Custom TypesOrder ComparisonIComparable< and >Implementing the IComparable InterfacesUtility ClassesConsoleEnvironmentProcessAppContext
EnumerationIEnumerable and IEnumeratorIEnumerable<T> and IEnumerator<T>Implementing the Enumeration InterfacesThe ICollection and IList InterfacesICollection<T> and ICollectionIList<T> and IListIReadOnlyList<T>The Array ClassConstruction and IndexingEnumerationLength and RankSearchingSortingReversing ElementsCopyingConverting and ResizingLists, Queues, Stacks, and SetsList<T> and ArrayListLinkedList<T>Queue<T> and QueueStack<T> and StackBitArrayHashSet<T> and SortedSet<T>DictionariesIDictionary<TKey,TValue>IDictionaryDictionary<TKey,TValue> and HashtableOrderedDictionaryListDictionary and HybridDictionarySorted DictionariesCustomizable Collections and ProxiesCollection<T> and CollectionBaseKeyedCollection<TKey,TItem> and DictionaryBaseReadOnlyCollection<T>Plugging in Equality and OrderIEqualityComparer and EqualityComparerIComparer and ComparerStringComparerIStructuralEquatable and IStructuralComparable
Getting StartedFluent SyntaxChaining Query OperatorsComposing Lambda ExpressionsNatural OrderingOther OperatorsQuery ExpressionsRange VariablesQuery Syntax Versus SQL SyntaxQuery Syntax Versus Fluent SyntaxMixed-Syntax QueriesDeferred ExecutionReevaluationCaptured VariablesHow Deferred Execution WorksChaining DecoratorsHow Queries Are ExecutedSubqueriesSubqueries and Deferred ExecutionComposition StrategiesProgressive Query BuildingThe into KeywordWrapping QueriesProjection StrategiesObject InitializersAnonymous TypesThe let KeywordInterpreted QueriesHow Interpreted Queries WorkCombining Interpreted and Local QueriesAsEnumerableLINQ to SQL and Entity FrameworkLINQ to SQL Entity ClassesEntity Framework Entity ClassesDataContext and ObjectContextAssociationsDeferred Execution with L2S and EFDataLoadOptionsEager Loading in Entity FrameworkUpdatesAPI Differences Between L2S and EFBuilding Query ExpressionsDelegates Versus Expression TreesExpression Trees
OverviewSequence→SequenceSequence→Element or ValueVoid→SequenceFilteringWhereTake and SkipTakeWhile and SkipWhileDistinctProjectingSelectSelectManyJoiningJoin and GroupJoinThe Zip OperatorOrderingOrderBy, OrderByDescending, ThenBy, and ThenByDescendingGroupingGroupBySet OperatorsConcat and UnionIntersect and ExceptConversion MethodsOfType and CastToArray, ToList, ToDictionary, and ToLookupAsEnumerable and AsQueryableElement OperatorsFirst, Last, and SingleElementAtDefaultIfEmptyAggregation MethodsCount and LongCountMin and MaxSum and AverageAggregateQuantifiersContains and AnyAll and SequenceEqualGeneration MethodsEmptyRange and Repeat

Architectural OverviewWhat Is a DOM?The LINQ to XML DOMX-DOM OverviewLoading and ParsingSaving and SerializingInstantiating an X-DOMFunctional ConstructionSpecifying ContentAutomatic Deep CloningNavigating and QueryingChild Node NavigationParent NavigationPeer Node NavigationAttribute NavigationUpdating an X-DOMSimple Value UpdatesUpdating Child Nodes and AttributesUpdating Through the ParentWorking with ValuesSetting ValuesGetting ValuesValues and Mixed Content NodesAutomatic XText ConcatenationDocuments and DeclarationsXDocumentXML DeclarationsNames and NamespacesNamespaces in XMLSpecifying Namespaces in the X-DOMThe X-DOM and Default NamespacesPrefixesAnnotationsProjecting into an X-DOMEliminating Empty ElementsStreaming a ProjectionTransforming an X-DOM
XmlReaderReading NodesReading ElementsReading AttributesNamespaces and PrefixesXmlWriterWriting AttributesWriting Other Node TypesNamespaces and PrefixesPatterns for Using XmlReader/XmlWriterWorking with Hierarchical DataMixing XmlReader/XmlWriter with an X-DOMXSD and Schema ValidationPerforming Schema ValidationXSLT
IDisposable, Dispose, and CloseStandard Disposal SemanticsWhen to DisposeOpt-in DisposalClearing Fields in DisposalAutomatic Garbage CollectionRootsGarbage Collection and WinRTFinalizersCalling Dispose from a FinalizerResurrectionHow the Garbage Collector WorksOptimization TechniquesForcing Garbage CollectionTuning Garbage CollectionMemory PressureManaged Memory LeaksTimersDiagnosing Memory LeaksWeak ReferencesWeak References and CachingWeak References and Events
Conditional CompilationConditional Compilation Versus Static Variable FlagsThe Conditional AttributeDebug and Trace ClassesFail and AssertTraceListenerFlushing and Closing ListenersDebugger IntegrationAttaching and BreakingDebugger AttributesProcesses and Process ThreadsExamining Running ProcessesExamining Threads in a ProcessStackTrace and StackFrameWindows Event LogsWriting to the Event LogReading the Event LogMonitoring the Event LogPerformance CountersEnumerating the Available CountersReading Performance Counter DataCreating Counters and Writing Performance DataThe Stopwatch Class
IntroductionThreadingCreating a ThreadJoin and SleepBlockingLocal Versus Shared StateLocking and Thread SafetyPassing Data to a ThreadException HandlingForeground Versus Background ThreadsThread PrioritySignalingThreading in Rich-Client ApplicationsSynchronization ContextsThe Thread PoolTasksStarting a TaskReturning ValuesExceptionsContinuationsTaskCompletionSourceTask.DelayPrinciples of AsynchronySynchronous Versus Asynchronous OperationsWhat Is Asynchronous Programming?Asynchronous Programming and ContinuationsWhy Language Support Is ImportantAsynchronous Functions in C#AwaitingWriting Asynchronous FunctionsAsynchronous Lambda ExpressionsAsynchronous Methods in WinRTAsynchrony and Synchronization ContextsOptimizationsAsynchronous PatternsCancellationProgress ReportingThe Task-based Asynchronous Pattern (TAP)Task CombinatorsObsolete PatternsAsynchronous Programming Model (APM)Event-Based Asynchronous Pattern (EAP)BackgroundWorker
Stream ArchitectureUsing StreamsReading and WritingSeekingClosing and FlushingTimeoutsThread SafetyBacking Store StreamsFileStreamMemoryStreamPipeStreamBufferedStreamStream AdaptersText AdaptersBinary AdaptersClosing and Disposing Stream AdaptersCompression StreamsCompressing in MemoryWorking with ZIP FilesFile and Directory OperationsThe File ClassThe Directory ClassFileInfo and DirectoryInfoPathSpecial FoldersQuerying Volume InformationCatching Filesystem EventsFile I/O in UWPWorking with DirectoriesWorking with FilesIsolated Storage in UWP AppsMemory-Mapped FilesMemory-Mapped Files and Random File I/OMemory-Mapped Files and Shared MemoryWorking with View AccessorsIsolated Storage
Network ArchitectureAddresses and PortsURIsClient-Side ClassesWebClientWebRequest and WebResponseHttpClientProxiesAuthenticationException HandlingWorking with HTTPHeadersQuery StringsUploading Form DataCookiesForms AuthenticationSSLWriting an HTTP ServerUsing FTPUsing DNSSending Mail with SmtpClientUsing TCPConcurrency with TCPReceiving POP3 Mail with TCPTCP in Windows Runtime
Serialization ConceptsSerialization EnginesFormattersExplicit Versus Implicit SerializationThe Data Contract SerializerDataContractSerializer Versus NetDataContractSerializerUsing the SerializersSerializing SubclassesObject ReferencesVersion ToleranceMember OrderingNull and Empty ValuesData Contracts and CollectionsSubclassed Collection ElementsCustomizing Collection and Element NamesExtending Data ContractsSerialization and Deserialization HooksInteroperating with [Serializable]Interoperating with IXmlSerializableThe Binary SerializerGetting StartedBinary Serialization Attributes[NonSerialized][OnDeserializing] and [OnDeserialized][OnSerializing] and [OnSerialized][OptionalField] and VersioningBinary Serialization with ISerializableSubclassing Serializable ClassesXML SerializationGetting Started with Attribute-Based SerializationSubclasses and Child ObjectsSerializing CollectionsIXmlSerializable
What’s in an AssemblyThe Assembly ManifestThe Application ManifestModulesThe Assembly ClassStrong Names and Assembly SigningHow to Strongly Name an AssemblyDelay SigningAssembly NamesFully Qualified NamesThe AssemblyName ClassAssembly Informational and File VersionsAuthenticode SigningHow to Sign with AuthenticodeAuthenticode ValidationThe Global Assembly CacheHow to Install Assemblies to the GACGAC and VersioningResources and Satellite AssembliesDirectly Embedding Resources.resources Files.resx FilesSatellite AssembliesCultures and SubculturesResolving and Loading AssembliesAssembly and Type Resolution RulesAssemblyResolveLoading AssembliesDeploying Assemblies Outside the Base FolderPacking a Single-File ExecutableWorking with Unreferenced Assemblies
Reflecting and Activating TypesObtaining a TypeType NamesBase Types and InterfacesInstantiating TypesGeneric TypesReflecting and Invoking MembersMember TypesC# Members Versus CLR MembersGeneric Type MembersDynamically Invoking a MemberMethod ParametersUsing Delegates for PerformanceAccessing Nonpublic MembersGeneric MethodsAnonymously Calling Members of a Generic InterfaceReflecting AssembliesLoading an Assembly into a Reflection-Only ContextModulesWorking with AttributesAttribute BasicsThe AttributeUsage AttributeDefining Your Own AttributeRetrieving Attributes at RuntimeRetrieving Attributes in the Reflection-Only ContextDynamic Code GenerationGenerating IL with DynamicMethodThe Evaluation StackPassing Arguments to a Dynamic MethodGenerating Local VariablesBranchingInstantiating Objects and Calling Instance MethodsException HandlingEmitting Assemblies and TypesSaving Emitted AssembliesThe Reflection.Emit Object ModelEmitting Type MembersEmitting MethodsEmitting Fields and PropertiesEmitting ConstructorsAttaching AttributesEmitting Generic Methods and TypesDefining Generic MethodsDefining Generic TypesAwkward Emission TargetsUncreated Closed GenericsCircular DependenciesParsing ILWriting a Disassembler
The Dynamic Language RuntimeNumeric Type UnificationDynamic Member Overload ResolutionSimplifying the Visitor PatternAnonymously Calling Members of a Generic TypeImplementing Dynamic ObjectsDynamicObjectExpandoObjectInteroperating with Dynamic LanguagesPassing State Between C# and a Script
Code Access SecurityIdentity and Role SecurityPermissionsDeclarative Versus Imperative SecurityImplementing Identity and Role SecurityAssigning Users and RolesOperating System SecurityRunning in a Standard User AccountAdministrative Elevation and VirtualizationCryptography OverviewWindows Data ProtectionHashingSymmetric EncryptionEncrypting in MemoryChaining Encryption StreamsDisposing Encryption ObjectsKey ManagementPublic Key Encryption and SigningThe RSA ClassDigital Signing
Synchronization OverviewExclusive LockingThe lock StatementMonitor.Enter and Monitor.ExitChoosing the Synchronization ObjectWhen to LockLocking and AtomicityNested LockingDeadlocksPerformanceMutexLocking and Thread SafetyThread Safety and .NET Framework TypesThread Safety in Application ServersImmutable ObjectsNonexclusive LockingSemaphoreReader/Writer LocksSignaling with Event Wait HandlesAutoResetEventManualResetEventCountdownEventCreating a Cross-Process EventWaitHandleWait Handles and ContinuationsConverting Wait Handles to TasksWaitAny, WaitAll, and SignalAndWaitThe Barrier ClassLazy InitializationLazy<T>LazyInitializerThread-Local Storage[ThreadStatic]ThreadLocal<T>GetData and SetDataInterrupt and AbortSuspend and ResumeTimersMultithreaded TimersSingle-Threaded Timers
Why PFX?PFX ConceptsPFX ComponentsWhen to Use PFXPLINQParallel Execution BallisticsPLINQ and OrderingPLINQ LimitationsExample: Parallel SpellcheckerFunctional PuritySetting the Degree of ParallelismCancellationOptimizing PLINQThe Parallel ClassParallel.InvokeParallel.For and Parallel.ForEachTask ParallelismCreating and Starting TasksWaiting on Multiple TasksCanceling TasksContinuationsTask SchedulersTaskFactoryWorking with AggregateExceptionFlatten and HandleConcurrent CollectionsIProducerConsumerCollection<T>ConcurrentBag<T>BlockingCollection<T>Writing a Producer/Consumer Queue
Application Domain ArchitectureCreating and Destroying Application DomainsUsing Multiple Application DomainsUsing DoCallBackMonitoring Application DomainsDomains and ThreadsSharing Data Between DomainsSharing Data via SlotsIntra-Process RemotingIsolating Types and Assemblies
Calling into Native DLLsType MarshalingMarshaling Common TypesMarshaling Classes and StructsIn and Out MarshalingCallbacks from Unmanaged CodeSimulating a C UnionShared MemoryMapping a Struct to Unmanaged Memoryfixed and fixed {...}COM InteroperabilityThe Purpose of COMThe Basics of the COM Type SystemCalling a COM Component from C#Optional Parameters and Named ArgumentsImplicit ref ParametersIndexersDynamic BindingEmbedding Interop TypesType EquivalencePrimary Interop AssembliesExposing C# Objects to COM
Regular Expression BasicsCompiled Regular ExpressionsRegexOptionsCharacter EscapesCharacter SetsQuantifiersGreedy Versus Lazy QuantifiersZero-Width AssertionsLookahead and LookbehindAnchorsWord BoundariesGroupsNamed GroupsReplacing and Splitting TextMatchEvaluator DelegateSplitting TextCookbook Regular ExpressionsRecipesRegular Expressions Language Reference
Roslyn ArchitectureWorkspacesSyntax TreesSyntaxTree StructureObtaining a Syntax TreeTraversing and Searching a TreeTriviaTransforming a Syntax TreeCompilations and Semantic ModelsCreating a CompilationEmitting an AssemblyQuerying the Semantic ModelExample: Renaming a Symbol

Overview

When you have questions about C# 7.0 or the .NET CLR and its core Framework assemblies, this bestselling guide has the answers you need. Since its debut in 2000, C# has become a language of unusual flexibility and breadth, but its continual growth means there’s always more to learn.

Organized around concepts and use cases, this updated edition provides intermediate and advanced programmers with a concise map of C# and .NET knowledge. Dive in and discover why this Nutshell guide is considered the definitive reference on C#.

Get up to speed on the C# language, from the basics of syntax and variables to advanced topics such as pointers, operator overloading, and dynamic binding
Dig deep into LINQ via three chapters dedicated to the topic
Explore concurrency and asynchrony, advanced threading, and parallel programming
Work with .NET features, including XML, regular expressions, networking, serialization, reflection, application domains, and security
Delve into Roslyn, the modular C# 7.0 compiler-as-a-service