What is C# ​U​sed ​F​or? 

C​#​ (or C​ Sharp​) is part of the C family of programming languages. It was developed by Microsoft in 2000 to meet the increasing demand for web applications that didn’t work with Visual Basic and C++. It’s versatile, capable of running on the Windows .NET framework and various open-source platforms, and many developers use it to build web and desktop applications. Let’s take a deeper look into C# and all the things you can use it for. 

Why should you use C#? 

C# has syntax that’s similar to other C-based languages, so it might be easier to pick up if you’re already familiar with C++ or Java. Plus, unique C# features like data types and generics make C# efficient, versatile, and maintainable. 

Take a look at this snippet of a basic C# program that calculates the area of a rectangle:

using System; class Program { static void Main() { // Declare variables to hold the length and width of the rectangle double length, width, area; // Prompt the user to enter the length Console.Write("Enter the length of the rectangle: "); length = Convert.ToDouble(Console.ReadLine()); // Prompt the user to enter the width Console.Write("Enter the width of the rectangle: "); width = Convert.ToDouble(Console.ReadLine()); // Calculate the area area = length * width; // Display the result Console.WriteLine("The area of the rectangle is: " + area); } }

C# is a general​-purpose​ programming language, so it’s powerful and versatile enough for devs to build a wide range of applications. Still, it‘s most often used in three areas. 

Web applications 

C# is cross-platform, so you can use it with frameworks like .NET to build dynamic websites and apps that run on most operating systems. Check out our skill path Build Web Apps with ASP.NET to learn how. 

Windows applications 

Microsoft created C#, so the language is a great choice for developing Windows applications. The development process is smooth, and C# functions like its garbage collection works exceptionally well. 

There’s also a huge community around C#, so there are lots of resources to turn to when problems or questions arise. This dependable support and extensive documentation from other developers when building C# applications can help uncover​​ insights and new solutions when working on a project. 

Gaming 

Many Game Developers prefer C#. The Unity game engine, which is one of the most popular, uses C++ and C#. C# integrates with Unity and works well when developing mobile apps or​ ​console games. 

Cloud development

C# is extensively used for building scalable and secure cloud-based applications and services. Devs use Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, to create, deploy, and manage applications and services through a global network of data centers.

What are the advantages of using C#? 

C# has a relatively low learning curve, so it’s great for beginners who may be intimidated by more complex languages. Experienced developers love it too since its syntax is simpler than many other languages’, which makes it easier to create complex stacks of code and add multiple features to an application. Other advantages of C# include: 

C# is a marketable skill. It’s a staple for many tech roles in the US, and even if it’s not a requirement, adding it to your tech stack can give you an edge.  C# provides a large library with high-level functionality when compared to languages like C++ and Java.  C# has an extensive memory bank that reduces the time it takes for development and deployment.  C# is highly scalable. Developers depend on scalable programming languages that are easy to maintain, and C# offers several attributes that help keep​​ applications consistent and reliable. 

​​​How does C​​​#​​​ work?​​​​​​ 

C# is flexible with features that support both functional programming and object-oriented programming (OOP). This allows you to build Applications Performance Management (APM) software, which offers insights into how an application will perform and ways to troubleshoot issues that may arise. Developers can implement an APM solution to optimize app performance during the staging, production, and post-production processes. 

C# code needs to be compiled before it’s executed. C# compilers return inputted code as an intermediate language (IL). This output is saved as either a .exe or .dll file. A just-in-time (JIT) compiler translates the IL code into machine code (also known as native code) which is then run by the operating system. 

There are several compilers developers can use when writing C#, including: 

Microsoft Visual Studio  Visual Web Developer  Visual Studio Express​ ​ 

Learn more about C# 

C# is a great choice if you’re looking for your next programming language, and we’ve got a wide selection of courses, skill paths, and projects that’ll build your C# skills. Sign up now to get started.