C# interview questions

C# interview questions

General Questions

1.Does C# support multiple-inheritance?

Object 1

No. But you can use Interfaces.

2.Where is a protected class-level variable available?

It is available to any sub-class derived from base class

3.Are private class-level variables inherited?

Yes, but they are not accessible.

4.Describe the accessibility modifier “protected internal”.

It is available to classes that are within the same assembly and derived from the specified base class.

6.Which class is at the top of .NET class hierarchy?

System.Object.

7.What does the term immutable mean?

The data value may not be changed.
Note: The variable value may be changed, but the original immutable data value was discarded and a
new data value was created in memory.

8.What’s the difference between System.String and System.Text.StringBuilder classes?

System.String is immutable.
System.StringBuilder was designed with the purpose of having a mutable string where a variety of
operations can be performed.

9.What’s the advantage of using System.Text.StringBuilder over System.String?

StringBuilder is more efficient in cases where there is a large amount of string manipulation. Strings
are immutable, so each time a string is changed, a new instance in memory is created.

10.Can you store multiple data types in System.Array?

No.

11.What’s the difference between the System.Array.CopyTo() and System.Array.Clone()?

The Clone() method returns a new array (a shallow copy) object containing all the elements in the
original array. The CopyTo() method copies the elements into another existing array. Both perform a
shallow copy. A shallow copy means the contents (each array element) contains references to the same
object as the elements in the original array. A deep copy (which neither of these methods performs)
would create a new instance of each element's object, resulting in a different, yet identacle object.

12.How can you sort the elements of the array in descending order?
By calling Sort() and then Reverse() methods.

13.What’s the .NET collection class that allows an element to be accessed using a unique key?
HashTable.

14.What class is underneath the SortedList class?

A sorted HashTable.

15.Will the finally block get executed if an exception has not occurred?
Yes.

16.What’s the C# syntax to catch any possible exception?

A catch block that catches the exception of type System.Exception. You can also omit the parameter
data type in this case and just write catch {}.

17.Can multiple catch blocks be executed for a single try statement?

No. Once the proper catch block processed, control is transferred to the finally block .

18.Explain the three services model commonly know as a three-tier application?

Presentation (UI), Business (logic and underlying code) and Data (from storage or other sources).

Class Questions

1.What is the syntax to inherit from a class in C#?

Place a colon and then the name of the base class.
Example: class MyNewClass : MyBaseClass

2.Can you prevent your class from being inherited by another class?
Yes. The keyword “sealed” will prevent the class from being inherited.

3.Can you allow a class to be inherited, but prevent the method from being over-ridden?
Yes. Just leave the class public and make the method sealed.

4.What’s an abstract class?

A class that cannot be instantiated. An abstract class is a class that must be inherited and have the
methods overridden. An abstract class is essentially a blueprint for a class without any implementation.

5.When do you absolutely have to declare a class as abstract?

1. When the class itself is inherited from an abstract class, but not all base abstract methods have been
overridden.

2. When at least one of the methods in the class is abstract.

6.What is an interface class?
Interfaces, like classes, define a set of properties, methods, and events. But unlike classes, interfaces do
not provide implementation. They are implemented by classes, and defined as separate entities from
classes.

7.Why can’t you specify the accessibility modifier for methods inside the interface?
They all must be public, and are therefore public by default.

8.Can you inherit multiple interfaces?

Yes. .NET does support multiple interfaces.

9.What happens if you inherit multiple interfaces and they have conflicting method names?
It’s up to you to implement the method inside your own class, so implementation is left entirely up to
you. This might cause a problem on a higher-level scale if similarly named methods from different
interfaces expect different data, but as far as compiler cares you’re okay.

10. What’s the difference between an interface and abstract class?

In an interface class, all methods are abstract - there is no implementation. In an abstract class some
methods can be concrete. In an interface class, no accessibility modifiers are allowed. An abstract class
may have accessibility modifiers.

11. What is the difference between a Struct and a Class?

Structs are value-type variables and are thus saved on the stack, additional overhead but faster retrieval.
Another difference is that structs cannot inherit.

Method and Property Questions

1. What’s the implicit name of the parameter that gets passed into the set method/property of a class?
Value. The data type of the value parameter is defined by whatever data type the property is declared .

2. What does the keyword “virtual” declare for a method or property?

The method or property can be overridden.

3. How is method overriding different from method overloading?

When overriding a method, you change the behavior of the method for the derived class. Overloading a
method simply involves having another method with the same name within the class.

4. Can you declare an override method to be static if the original method is not static?
No. The signature of the virtual method must remain the same. (Note: Only the keyword virtual is
changed to keyword override)

5. What are the different ways a method can be overloaded?

Different parameter data types, different number of parameters, different order of parameters.

6. If a base class has a number of overloaded constructors, and an inheriting class has a number of
overloaded constructors; can you enforce a call from an inherited constructor to a specific base
constructor?
Yes, just place a colon, and then keyword base (parameter list to invoke the appropriate constructor) in
the overloaded constructor definition inside the inherited class.

Events and Delegates

1. What’s a delegate?
A delegate object encapsulates a reference to a method.

2. What’s a multicast delegate?

A delegate that has multiple handlers assigned to it. Each assigned handler (method) is called.

3. What’s the implicit name of the parameter that gets passed into the class’ set method?
Value, and it’s datatype depends on whatever variable we’re changing.

4. How do you inherit from a class in C#?

Place a colon and then the name of the base class.

5. Does C# support multiple inheritance?

No, use interfaces instead.

6. When you inherit a protected class-level variable, who is it available to?

Classes in the same namespace.

7. Are private class-level variables inherited?

Yes, but they are not accessible, so looking at it you can honestly say that they are not inherited.

8. Describe the accessibility modifier protected internal.?

It’s available to derived classes and classes within the same Assembly (and naturally from the base
class it’s declared in).

9. C# provides a default constructor for me. I write a constructor that takes a string as a parameter, but
want to keep the no parameter one. How many constructors should I write?
Two. Once you write at least one constructor, C# cancels the freebie constructor, and now you have to
write one yourself, even if there’s no implementation in it.

10. What’s the top .NET class that everything is derived from?
System.Object.

11. How’s method overriding different from overloading?

When overriding, you change the method behavior for a derived class. Overloading simply involves
having a method with the same name within the class.

12. What does the keyword virtual mean in the method definition?
The method can be over-ridden.
13. Can you declare the override method static while the original method is non-static?
No, you can’t, the signature of the virtual method must remain the same, only the keyword virtual is
changed to keyword override.

14. Can you override private virtual methods?

No, moreover, you cannot access private methods in inherited classes, have to be protected in the base
class to allow any sort of access.

15. Can you prevent your class from being inherited and becoming a base class for some other classes?
Yes, that’s what keyword sealed in the class definition is for. The developer trying to derive from your
class will get a message: cannot inherit from Sealed class WhateverBaseClassName.
It’s the same concept as final class in Java.

16. Can you allow class to be inherited, but prevent the method from being over-ridden?
Yes, just leave the class public and make the method sealed.

17. What’s an abstract class?

A class that cannot be instantiated. A concept in C++ known as pure virtual method. A class that must
be inherited and have the methods over-ridden.
Essentially, it’s a blueprint for a class without any implementation.

18. When do you absolutely have to declare a class as abstract (as opposed to free-willed educated
choice or decision based on UML diagram)?
When at least one of the methods in the class is abstract. When the class itself is inherited from an
abstract class, but not all base abstract methods have been over-ridden.

19. What’s an interface class?

It’s an abstract class with public abstract methods all of which must be implemented in the inherited
classes.

20. Why can’t you specify the accessibility modifier for methods inside the interface?
They all must be public. Therefore, to prevent you from getting the false impression that you have any
freedom of choice, you are not allowed to specify any accessibility, it’s public by default.

21. Can you inherit multiple interfaces?

Yes, why not.

22. And if they have conflicting method names?

It’s up to you to implement the method inside your own class, so implementation is left entirely up to
you.
This might cause a problem on a higher-level scale if similarly named methods from different
interfaces expect different data, but as far as compiler cares you’re okay.

23. What’s the difference between an interface and abstract class?

In the interface all methods must be abstract, in the abstract class some methods can be concrete. In the
interface no accessibility modifiers are allowed, which is ok in abstract classes.

24. How can you overload a method?

Different parameter data types, different number of parameters, different order of parameters.
25. If a base class has a bunch of overloaded constructors, and an inherited class has another bunch of
overloaded constructors, can you enforce a call from an inherited constructor to an arbitrary base
constructor?
Yes, just place a colon, and then keyword base (parameter list to invoke the appropriate constructor) in
the overloaded constructor definition inside the inherited class.

26. What’s the difference between System.String and System.StringBuilder classes?

System.String is immutable, System.StringBuilder was designed with the purpose of having a mutable
string where a variety of operations can be performed.

27. Is it namespace class or class namespace?

The .NET class library is organized into namespaces. Each namespace contains a functionally related
group of classes so natural namespace comes first.

C# Interview Questions | C Sharp Interview Questions

1) Explain about C#?
C # is also known as c sharp. It is a programming language introduced by Microsoft. C# contains
features similar to Java and C++. It is specially designed to work with Microsoft .NET platform.
2) Explain about the rules for naming classes in C#?
These are the rules for naming classes in c sharp.
• Must begin with a letter. This letter may be followed by a sequence of letters, digits (0-9), or ‘_’. The
first character in a class name cannot be a digit.
• Must not contain any embedded space or symbol like ? - + ! @ # % & * ( ) { } [ ] , : ; ‘ “ \ and/.
However an underscore _ can be used wherever a space is required.
• Must not use a keyword for a class name.
3) What are the rules to be followed while naming variables in C#.
The following rules are used for naming variables in C#.
* Must begin with a letter or an underscore _ which may be followed by a sequence of letters, digits (0-
9), or ‘_’. The first character in a variable name cannot be a digit.
* Must not contain any embedded space or symbol like ? - + ! @ # % & * ( ) { } [ ] , : ; ‘ “ \ and/.
However an underscore _ can be used wherever a space is required.
• Must be unique
• Can have any number of characters
• Keywords cannot be used as variable names.
4) What are the different types of Data?
There are two different types of data supported by C#. They are
1) Value types: -They directly contain data. When you declare an int variable, the system allocates
memory to store the value.
2) Reference type: -The reference types do not maintain data but they contain a reference to the
variables, which are stored in memory. This means that if the value in the memory location is modified
by one of the variables, the other variables automatically reflect the changes value
5) Explain about member functions?
A function is a set of statements that perform a specific task in response to a message. The functions of
a class are called member functions in Csharp. Member functions are declared inside the class. The
function declaration introduces the function in the class and the function definition contains the
function code.
6) Explain about comment entry?
Comments are a part of the program and are used to explain the code. Compilers ignore comment
entries. If a comment entry spans more than one line, it has to be enclosed within ‘/*’ and ‘*/’. The
symbol ‘//’ treats the rest of code within the same line as a comment.
7) What are operators?
Applications use operators to process the data entered by a user. Operators like + and – are used to
process variables and return a value. An operator is a set of one or more characters that is used for
computations or comparisons. Operators can transform one or more data values, called operands into a
new data value.
8) Explain about the break statement?
A break statement is used to exit the switch statement. This prevents the execution of the remaining
case structures by ending the execution of the switch case construct. Each break statement terminates
the enclosing switch statement and the flow of control. If none of the cases match the default case is
invoked.
9) Define encapsulation?
Encapsulation literally means to enclose in or as if in a capsule. Encapsulation is defined as the process
of enclosing one or more items within a physical or logical package. It involves preventing access to
nonessential details.
10) Define access specifier with reference to class?
An access specifier defines the scope of a class member. A class member refers to the variables and
functions in a class. A program can have one or more classes. You may want some members of a class
to be accessible to other classes. But, you may not want some other members of the class to be
accessible outside the class.
11) Describe about private access specifier?
The private access specifier allows a class to hide its member variables and member functions from
other class objects and functions. Therefore, the private member of a class is not visible outside a class.
If a member is declared private, only the functions of that class can access the member. Even the
instance of the class cannot access its members
12) Explain about protected internal access specifier?
This specifier allows a class to hide its member variables and member functions to be accessed from
other class objects and functions, except the child class, within the application. The protected internal
access specifier becomes important while implementing inheritance.
13) Define parameter by value?
Pass by value is the default mechanism for passing parameters to a method. The simplest definition of a
value parameter is a data type name followed by a variable name. When a method is called, a new
storage location is created for each value parameter. The values of the corresponding expressions are
copied into them. The expression supplied for each value parameter must be similar to the declaration
of the value parameter.
14) State the methods through which parameters can be passed?
Parameters can be passed by using any one of the following mechanism.
Value: -They are sometimes called in or out parameters; therefore, the data can be transferred into the
method but cannot be transferred out.
Reference: -Are sometimes called in or out parameters, therefore, the data can be transferred into the
method and out again.
Output: -Are sometimes called out parameters, data can be transferred out of the method.
15) Explain about reference parameter?
A reference parameter is a reference to a memory location of a data member. Unlike a value parameter,
a reference parameter does not create a new storage location. Instead a reference parameter represents
the same location in memory as the variable that is supplied in the method call.
16) How do you use a structure?
A structure is a value type data type. When you want a single variable to hold related data of various
data types, you can create a structure. To create a structure you use the struct keyword.
17) What is an enumerator?
Enumeration is a value data type, which means that enumeration contains its own values and cannot
inherit or pass inheritance. Enumerator allows you to assign symbolic names or integral constants.