C# (pronounced "see sharp", accurately "ˌsiː ˈʃɑːrp") is a general-purpose, high-level programming language that supports multiple paradigms. C# encompasses static typing, strong typing, lexically scoped, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented (class-based), and component-oriented programming disciplines. C# was developed by Microsoft as part of the .NET platform. The first version was released in 2000. The most recent version is C# 14, which was released on November 11, 2025.

C# is a modern language that aims to be simple, expressive, and versatile. It has many features that make it suitable for various kinds of applications, such as web development, desktop development, mobile development, game development, cloud computing, and more. C# is also interoperable with other .NET languages, such as Visual Basic .NET, F#, and IronPython. C# can also use libraries and frameworks written in other languages, such as C++ and JavaScript.

C# syntax is similar to C++, but with some notable differences. For example, C# does not support multiple inheritance, pointers, or header files. Instead, C# uses interfaces, delegates, and generics to achieve polymorphism, function pointers, and templates. C# also has some features that are not found in C++, such as properties, events, anonymous methods, lambda expressions, anonymous types, nullable types, extension methods, LINQ, async/await, and attributes.

C# is a compiled language, which means that the source code is translated into an intermediate language (IL) that can be executed by a virtual machine (VM) called the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR provides services such as memory management, exception handling, security, and debugging. The CLR also supports a feature called reflection, which allows C# programs to inspect and manipulate their own code and data at runtime.

C# is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, according to various surveys and rankings. C# is widely used by professional developers, hobbyists, students, and educators. C# is also one of the official languages for developing applications for Windows, Xbox, and Unity. C# has a large and active community that contributes to its development and improvement. C# also has many online resources, such as tutorials, books, blogs, podcasts, videos, courses, and forums, that help beginners and experts alike to learn and master the language.

How to start using C#

C# is a versatile and powerful programming language that can be used to create various types of applications, such as desktop, web, mobile, and gaming. To start using C#, you need to have some basic tools and knowledge, such as:

• An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that allows you to write, compile, and run C# code. There are many IDEs available for C#, but one of the most popular and recommended ones is Visual Studio, which is developed by Microsoft, the creator of C# and the .NET Framework. You can download Visual Studio Community for free from Microsoft).
• A .NET runtime that executes your C# code and provides a set of libraries and services that you can use in your applications. There are different versions and implementations of the .NET runtime, such as .NET Framework, .NET Core, .NET 5, .NET 6, Mono, and Xamarin. Depending on your target platform and application type, you may need to install one or more of these runtimes on your machine or device. You can find more information about the .NET runtimes and how to install them from W3Schools.
• A basic understanding of the C# syntax, data types, operators, control structures, methods, classes, and other language features. You can learn the fundamentals of C# from various sources, such as books, online courses, tutorials, and videos. One of the best places to start learning C# is the Microsoft website, which offers interactive tutorials, examples, and reference materials for C# and .NET.

Once you have these tools and knowledge, you can start writing your first C# program. A common way to begin is to create a console application, which is a simple program that runs in a command-line window and displays some output. To create a console application using Visual Studio, you can follow these steps:

• Open Visual Studio and select Create a new project from the start window.
• Choose Console App (.NET Core) from the list of templates and click Next.
• Enter a name for your project, such as HelloWorld, and click Create.
• Visual Studio will generate some code for your project, which should look something like this:

using System;

namespace HelloWorld
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");
        }
    }
}
* This code defines a namespace called HelloWorld, which is a way to organize your code and avoid name conflicts. Inside the namespace, there is a class called Program, which is a blueprint for creating objects. Inside the class, there is a method called Main, which is the entry point of your program. The Main method contains a single statement that writes the text “Hello World!” to the console using the Console.WriteLine method.
* To run your program, you can press the F5 key on your keyboard or click Debug > Start Debugging from the menu. This will compile and execute your code, and open a console window that shows the output of your program. You should see something like this:
Hello World!