Welcome to C# programming! A C# class is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming. Think of it as a blueprint or template that defines how objects should be structured and what they can do. Just like an architectural blueprint shows how to build a house, a class shows how to create objects with specific properties and behaviors.
Let's examine the basic structure of a C# class. A class typically contains several key components. Fields store data privately within the class. Properties provide controlled access to that data with get and set methods. Constructors initialize new objects when they're created. And methods define what actions the objects can perform. Here's a simple Car class that demonstrates all these elements working together.
Now let's see how to create and use objects from our class. Objects are instances of a class, created using the 'new' keyword followed by a constructor call. Each object has its own copy of the class data. We can access properties and methods using dot notation. Notice how each object maintains its own separate data - changing one object doesn't affect another. This demonstrates the power of object-oriented programming where each instance is independent.
Access modifiers are crucial for controlling how class members can be accessed. Public members are accessible from anywhere in your program. Private members can only be accessed within the same class, providing encapsulation and data protection. Protected members are accessible within the class and its subclasses, useful for inheritance. Internal members are accessible within the same assembly. This example shows a BankAccount class where the balance is kept private for security, while providing controlled access through public methods.
Classes are fundamental to C# programming and offer many important benefits. They provide encapsulation by protecting data and controlling access through methods and properties. Classes enable code reusability - once you define a class, you can create multiple objects from it. They promote modularity by organizing related data and behavior together. This makes code more maintainable and easier to update. Classes also provide abstraction, hiding complex implementation details behind simple interfaces. Understanding classes is essential for mastering object-oriented programming in C#.