C# (C Sharp)

Definition - What does C# (C Sharp) mean?

C# is a general object-oriented programming (OOP) language for networking and Web development. C# is specified as a common language infrastructure (CLI) language.

In January 1999, Dutch software engineer Anders Hejlsberg formed a team to develop C# as a complement to Microsoft’s NET framework. Initially, C# was developed as C-Like Object Oriented Language (Cool). The actual name was changed to avert potential trademark issues. In January 2000, NET was released as C#. Its NET framework promotes multiple Web technologies.

The term is sometimes spelled as C Sharp or C-Sharp.

Techopedia explains C# (C Sharp)

The term’s # character derives its name from the musical sharp key, which denotes a one semitone pitch increase. C# is pronounced "see sharp."


C# improved and updated many C and C++ features, including the following:

  • C# has a strict Boolean data variable type, such as bool, whereas C++ bool variable types may be returned as integers or pointers to avoid common programming errors.
  • C# automatically manages inaccessible object memory using a garbage collector, which eliminates developer concerns and memory leaks.
  • C# type is safer than C++ and has safe default conversions only (for example, integer widening), which are implemented during compile or runtime.

No implicit conversions between Booleans, enumeration members and integers (other than 0) may be converted to an enumerated type. User-defined conversions must be specified as explicit or implicit, versus the C++ default implicit conversion operators and copy constructors.

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