C# this Keyword - Dot Net Perls

this KeywordUse the this-keyword in an example program. The keyword is part of an instance expression.

This page was last reviewed on Nov 18, 2022.

This. Here we eliminate naming conflicts. This keyword indicates the current instance. Two variables sometimes have the same identifier.

A special keyword (this) eliminates mistakes—it indicates the class member with the identifier. It can also be part of an indexer on a class (this is a separate thing).

Indexer

Constructor

Extension

An example. This program uses the "this" keyword when referring to a class instance. We use the "this" keyword inside the class declaration only and to refer to that instance.

Detail This can not refer to a static field or method. It cannot occur inside a static class.

Tip The "this" keyword is inferred by the compiler and not required. It is useful for expressing your intent.

Part 1 B is an instance method. The method B can be called as "this.B()" only if you are inside the class.

Part 2 The program accesses a field with "this". The statements "_a++" and "this._a++" are equivalent in this program.

using System; class Perl { public Perl() { // Part 1: call instance method with "this." this.B(); } int _a; // Instance field public void B() { // Part 2: increment instance field without "this." _a++; // ... Use this. this._a++; // ... Read instance field. Console.WriteLine("B called: " + this._a); } } class Program { static void Main() { // Create a new instance of the type Perl. // ... The constructor calls method B. // ... Then we call method B again. Perl perl = new Perl(); perl.B(); } }

B called: 2 B called: 4

Example 2. We can pass the "this" instance to another method. That method will then receive the reference to the class we called it from.

Tip This approach can be useful in some contexts where you have a chain of method calls and constructors.

using System; class Net { public string Name { get; set; } public Net(Perl perl) { // Use name from Perl instance. this.Name = perl.Name; } } class Perl { public string Name { get; set; } public Perl(string name) { this.Name = name; // Pass this instance as a parameter! Net net = new Net(this); // The Net instance now has the same name. Console.WriteLine(net.Name); } } class Program { static void Main() { Perl perl = new Perl("Sam"); } }

Sam

Disambiguate. Use "this" to disambiguate a variable, for when you have a conflict in a parameter or local variable name and a field name. This sometimes prevents a compile-time error.

Detail The term "precisely equivalent" means exactly equal. The term "disambiguate" means to make the difference clear.

Standard. Each member type describes its behavior with the "this" keyword as an instance expression. None of the member types allow you to use "this" when dealing with a static declaration.

Note The standard refers to the "this" keyword as the instance expression. The keyword is an important part of the language.

Detail The standard goes to great detail about the nature of expressions in a 150-page chapter.

Constructor initializer. You can use "this" in a constructor initializer to implement constructor overloading and code sharing. It makes classes simpler.

Constructor

class

Indexer. Also, you can use "this" to declare an indexer. An indexer can be accessed with the same syntax as an array type. We can have expression-bodied indexers.

Indexer

Extension methods. Extension method syntax uses the "this" keyword in a different context. We use "this" to specify the instance variable in the parameter list of the extension method.

Extension

A summary. We provided details from the C# standard itself. The instance expression is optional in many cases. It indicates which identifier is being referenced.

Dot Net Perls is a collection of tested code examples. Pages are continually updated to stay current, with code correctness a top priority.

Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.

No updates found for this page.

Home

Changes