Methods in C# Language

C# (pronounced as “C sharp”) is a popular, versatile, and object-oriented programming language d

eveloped by Microsoft. It offers a wide range of features, and one of the fundamental building blocks of C# programs is methods. Methods allow you to encapsulate logic and functionality within your code, making it more organized, readable, and maintainable. In this article, we will delve into the world of methods in C# and explore various types and examples.

Defining Methods:

In C#, a method is a block of code that performs a specific task or operation. It can be part of a class or a stand-alone method. When defining a method, you specify its name, access modifier, return type, parameters (if any), and method body. Here’s a basic structure of a C# method:

access_modifier return_type MethodName(parameters)
{
    // Method body
    // Perform operations
    return result; // (optional)
}

• access_modifier: Defines the accessibility of the method (e.g., public, private, protected, internal).
• return_type: Specifies the data type of the value the method returns. If the method doesn’t return anything, use void.
• MethodName: The name of the method.
• parameters: Optional input values that the method can use.
• method body: Contains the code to perform the desired task.
• return: If the method has a return type, it returns a value of that type.

Example 1: A Simple Method

Let’s create a simple method that calculates the sum of two numbers and returns the result:

public int Add(int num1, int num2)
{
    int sum = num1 + num2;
    return sum;
}

In this example:

• Access modifier is public.
• Return type is int.
• Method name is Add.
• Two parameters, num1 and num2, are of type int.
• The method body calculates the sum of num1 and num2 and returns the result.

Example 2: Static Methods

Static methods belong to the class itself, not to instances of the class. They are defined using the static keyword and can be called without creating an instance of the class. Here’s an example:

public static void PrintMessage(string message)
{
    Console.WriteLine(message);
}

In this example:

• Access modifier is public.
• Return type is void.
• Method name is PrintMessage.
• One parameter, message, is of type string.
• The method body prints the message to the console.

Example 3: Method Overloading

Method overloading allows you to define multiple methods with the same name in a class but with different parameter lists. The appropriate method is chosen at compile time based on the number or types of arguments provided.

public int Add(int num1, int num2)
{
    return num1 + num2;
}

public double Add(double num1, double num2)
{
    return num1 + num2;
}

In this example, we have two Add methods with different parameter types (int and double). Depending on the argument types, the appropriate method is called.