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Top 20 Must-Know C# Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: What is the Common Language Runtime (CLR)?

The Common Language Runtime (CLR) is the virtual machine component of Microsoft's .NET framework. It manages the execution of .NET programs and provides important services such as memory management, security enforcement, exception handling, and thread management. The CLR allows for the execution of code written in different languages, provided they adhere to the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) standards.

Q2: What is the difference between int and Int32 in C#?

In C#, int and Int32 are essentially the same. int is an alias for System.Int32 . They both represent a 32-bit signed integer. The choice between using int or Int32 is largely a matter of style or readability, but they function identically.

int a = 5;
System.Int32 b = 10;

Q3: What are the key features of C#?

C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language that includes several key features:

  • Object-Oriented: Supports concepts such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
  • Type-Safe: Prevents type errors that might occur at runtime.
  • Component-Oriented: Supports properties, events, and attributes.
  • Automatic Memory Management: Utilizes garbage collection to manage memory.
  • Strongly Typed: Enforces strict type checking.
  • Versioning: Provides support for backward compatibility and versioning of assemblies.

Q4: What is the purpose of namespaces in C#?

Namespaces are used in C# to organize and provide a level of separation for different classes, structures, enums, delegates, and interfaces. They help avoid naming conflicts by grouping logically related types under a common name. This makes the code more manageable and prevents clashes when integrating with other codebases or libraries.


namespace MyApplication
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
        }
    }
}

Q5: Explain the concept of inheritance in C#.

Inheritance is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming that allows a class (derived class) to inherit fields, methods, and properties from another class (base class). This promotes code reusability and establishes a hierarchical relationship between classes. In C#, inheritance is implemented using the : symbol. A derived class can extend a base class and override its methods or add new ones.

// Base class
public class Animal
{
    public void Eat()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Eating...");
    }
}

// Derived class
public class Dog : Animal
{
    public void Bark()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Barking...");
    }
}

// Usage
Dog dog = new Dog();
dog.Eat(); // Inherited method
dog.Bark(); // Method in derived class

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Q6: What are access modifiers in C#?

Access modifiers in C# are keywords used to specify the accessibility of a class and its members. The main access modifiers are:

  • public: The member is accessible from any other code.
  • private: The member is accessible only within the class or struct in which it is declared.
  • protected: The member is accessible within its class and by derived class instances.
  • internal: The member is accessible only within files in the same assembly.
  • protected internal: The member is accessible within its assembly and by derived class instances.
public class MyClass
{
    private int privateField;
    public int publicField;
    protected int protectedField;
    internal int internalField;
    protected internal int protectedInternalField;
}

Q7: What is the difference between abstract classes and interfaces in C#?

Both abstract classes and interfaces can be used to define methods that must be implemented by derived classes. However, there are key differences:

  • Abstract Classes: Can include implementation of methods, fields, properties, and constructors. A class can inherit from only one abstract class.
  • Interfaces: Cannot include any implementation. They can only contain method, property, event, or indexer declarations. A class can implement multiple interfaces.
// Abstract class
public abstract class Animal
{
    public abstract void MakeSound();
    public void Eat()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Eating...");
    }
}

// Interface
public interface IAnimal
{
    void MakeSound();
}

// Implementing an abstract class
public class Dog : Animal
{
    public override void MakeSound()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Barking...");
    }
}

// Implementing an interface
public class Cat : IAnimal
{
    public void MakeSound()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Meowing...");
    }
}

Q8: What is polymorphism in C#?

Polymorphism is a core concept in object-oriented programming that allows methods to have different implementations based on the object they are acting upon. There are two types of polymorphism in C#:

  • Compile-time polymorphism (Method Overloading): Methods in a class with the same name but different parameters.
  • Runtime polymorphism (Method Overriding): Derived class provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its base class using the virtual and override keywords.
// Method Overloading
public class MathOperations
{
    public int Add(int a, int b)
    {
        return a + b;
    }
    public double Add(double a, double b)
    {
        return a + b;
    }
}

// Method Overriding
public class BaseClass
{
    public virtual void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Base class display method");
    }
}

public class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public override void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Derived class display method");
    }
}

Q9: Explain the concept of delegates in C#.

A delegate in C# is a type that represents references to methods with a particular parameter list and return type. Delegates are used to pass methods as arguments to other methods. They are similar to function pointers in C++ but are type-safe and secure.

public delegate void DisplayMessage(string message);

public class MessageHandler
{
    public void ShowMessage(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(message);
    }
}

public class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        MessageHandler handler = new MessageHandler();
        DisplayMessage del = new DisplayMessage(handler.ShowMessage);
        del("Hello, World!");
    }
}

Q10: What are events in C#?

Events in C# are a way for a class to notify other classes or objects when something of interest happens. Events are based on delegates. A class that raises an event is called a publisher , and a class that receives the event notification is called a subscriber .

public class Publisher
{
    public delegate void Notify();  // Delegate
    public event Notify OnNotify;   // Event

    public void DoSomething()
    {
        // Some code...
        OnNotify?.Invoke();
    }
}

public class Subscriber
{
    public void Subscribe(Publisher publisher)
    {
        publisher.OnNotify += OnNotified;
    }

    private void OnNotified()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Subscriber notified.");
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Publisher publisher = new Publisher();
        Subscriber subscriber = new Subscriber();
        subscriber.Subscribe(publisher);

        publisher.DoSomething(); // This will trigger the event
    }
}

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Q11: What is the difference between String and string in C#?

In C#, String and string are essentially the same. string is an alias for System.String . They both represent a sequence of characters. The use of one over the other is a matter of style or convention. However, string is more commonly used in C# code, while String is used when referencing the .NET class directly.

Q12: What are properties in C# and how do they differ from fields?

Properties in C# are members that provide a flexible mechanism to read, write, or compute the values of private fields. Properties can have logic implemented in their get and set accessors, providing control over how values are accessed or modified. Fields, on the other hand, are simple variables that store data directly.

public class Person
{
    private string name; // Field

    public string Name   // Property
    {
        get { return name; }
        set { name = value; }
    }
}

Q13: Explain the concept of method overloading.

Method overloading in C# is the ability to create multiple methods with the same name in the same class but with different parameters (different type, number, or both). It allows methods to handle different types of input in a flexible and readable way.

public class MathOperations
{
    public int Add(int a, int b) => a + b;
    public double Add(double a, double b) => a + b;
}

Q14: What is a struct in C# and how is it different from a class?

A struct in C# is a value type that can contain fields, methods, constructors, properties, and other members. Unlike classes, structs are value types and are typically used for small data structures that contain primarily data. Key differences:

  • Structs are value types, while classes are reference types.
  • Structs are stored on the stack, whereas classes are stored on the heap.
  • Structs do not support inheritance but can implement interfaces.
  • Structs cannot have a default constructor (parameterless).
public struct Point
{
    public int X { get; set; }
    public int Y { get; set; }
}

Q15: What is the purpose of the using statement in C#?

The using statement in C# is used to ensure that IDisposable objects are properly disposed of once they are no longer needed. This is particularly important for managing unmanaged resources like file handles, database connections, or network connections. The using statement ensures that the Dispose method is called even if an exception occurs.

using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader("file.txt"))
{
    string content = reader.ReadToEnd();
}

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Q16: What is the difference between const and readonly in C#?

Both const and readonly are used to define fields whose values cannot be modified, but they have different use cases and behaviors:

  • const: The value is set at compile-time and cannot be changed. It must be initialized at the time of declaration. const is implicitly static.
  • readonly: The value is set at runtime, either during declaration or in the constructor. It can be different for each instance of the class.
public class Example
{
    public const int ConstValue = 10; // Compile-time constant
    public readonly int ReadOnlyValue; // Runtime constant

    public Example(int value)
    {
        ReadOnlyValue = value; // Can only be set in the constructor
    }
}

Q17: What are the different types of collections in C#?

C# provides several types of collections, categorized mainly into the following:

  • Arrays: Fixed-size collections of elements of the same type.
  • List<T>: A dynamic array that can grow in size.
  • Dictionary<TKey, TValue>: A collection of key-value pairs.
  • Queue<T>: A first-in, first-out (FIFO) collection.
  • Stack<T>: A last-in, first-out (LIFO) collection.
  • HashSet<T>: A collection of unique elements.
  • LinkedList<T>: A doubly linked list.

Q18: Explain the concept of exception handling in C#.

Exception handling in C# is a mechanism to handle runtime errors in a controlled and graceful manner using try , catch , finally , and throw keywords.

  • try: Block of code where exceptions may occur.
  • catch: Block of code that handles the exception.
  • finally: Block of code that executes regardless of whether an exception is thrown or not.
  • throw: Used to explicitly throw an exception.
try
{
    int divisor = 0;
    int result = 10 / divisor;
}
catch (DivideByZeroException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Cannot divide by zero.");
}
finally
{
    Console.WriteLine("Execution completed.");
}

Q19: What is LINQ in C#?

LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is a set of features in C# that provides query capabilities directly within the C# language. It allows querying various data sources, such as collections, SQL databases, XML documents, etc., using a consistent syntax. LINQ queries can be written using query syntax or method syntax.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
var evenNumbers = from num in numbers
                  where num % 2 == 0
                  select num;

Q20: What is the difference between override and new keyword in C#?

Both override and new are used to redefine a method in a derived class, but they have different implications:

  • override: Used to provide a new implementation of a virtual method defined in the base class. It requires the method in the base class to be marked as virtual, abstract, or override.
  • new: Hides a method from the base class. It is used when the derived class wants to define a new implementation that is not related to the base class method.
public class BaseClass
{
    public virtual void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Base class display method");
    }
}

public class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public override void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Derived class display method");
    }
}

public class AnotherDerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public new void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Another derived class display method");
    }
}

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Practical C# Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: Identify and fix the errors in the following code snippet.
(Basic)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int[] numbers = new int[5] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
        for (int i = 0; i <= numbers.Length; i++)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(numbers[i]);
        }
    }
}

Expected Output: 1 2 3 4 5
There are two errors in the code:
The array initialization should not include the size if the elements are specified.
The loop condition should use < instead of <= to avoid an IndexOutOfRangeException.


public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int[] numbers = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
        for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Length; i++)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(numbers[i]);
        }
    }
}
Q2: Write a C# program to check if a given string is a palindrome.
(Basic)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string input = "racecar";
        bool isPalindrome = IsPalindrome(input);
        Console.WriteLine($"Is the string '{input}' a palindrome? {isPalindrome}");
    }

    public static bool IsPalindrome(string input)
    {
        int left = 0;
        int right = input.Length - 1;

        while (left < right)
        {
            if (input[left] != input[right])
            {
                return false;
            }
            left++;
            right--;
        }

        return true;
    }
}
Q3: What will be the output of the following code snippet?
(Basic)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int x = 10;
        int y = x++;
        Console.WriteLine($"x: {x}, y: {y}");
    }
}

The output will be:
x: 11, y: 10
Explanation: x++ is a post-increment operator, which means the current value of x (10) is assigned to y , and then x is incremented by 1.

Q4: Identify and fix the errors in the following code snippet.
(Basic)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string[] fruits = { "Apple", "Banana", "Cherry" };
        foreach (string fruit in fruits)
        {
            fruit = fruit.ToUpper();
        }
        Console.WriteLine(string.Join(", ", fruits));
    }
}

Expected Output: APPLE, BANANA, CHERRY
The error is that the fruit variable inside the foreach loop is a copy, and modifying it does not affect the elements in the array. Use a for loop to modify the array elements.


public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string[] fruits = { "Apple", "Banana", "Cherry" };
        for (int i = 0; i < fruits.Length; i++)
        {
            fruits[i] = fruits[i].ToUpper();
        }
        Console.WriteLine(string.Join(", ", fruits));
    }
}
Q5: Optimize the following code to improve its performance.
(Intermediate)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List numbers = new List { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
        for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Count; i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < numbers.Count; j++)
            {
                if (i != j)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(numbers[i] * numbers[j]);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

The nested loops cause the time complexity to be O(n^2). Since the multiplication of two numbers is commutative, we can reduce redundant calculations.


public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List numbers = new List { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
        for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Count; i++)
        {
            for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.Count; j++)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(numbers[i] * numbers[j]);
            }
        }
    }
}
Q6: Improve the performance of the following code snippet that calculates the sum of squares of numbers from 1 to n.
(Intermediate)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int n = 100;
        int sum = 0;
        for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++)
        {
            sum += i * i;
        }
        Console.WriteLine(sum);
    }
}

The performance can be improved using a mathematical formula for the sum of squares:
∑i=1^n i^2 = n(n + 1)(2n + 1) / 6


public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int n = 100;
        int sum = (n * (n + 1) * (2 * n + 1)) / 6;
        Console.WriteLine(sum);
    }
}
Q7: Optimize the following code that calculates the factorial of a number.
(Intermediate)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int n = 10;
        int result = Factorial(n);
        Console.WriteLine(result);
    }

    public static int Factorial(int n)
    {
        if (n == 0 || n == 1)
            return 1;
        return n * Factorial(n - 1);
    }
}

The recursive approach can be replaced with an iterative approach to improve performance and avoid stack overflow for large n .


public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int n = 10;
        int result = Factorial(n);
        Console.WriteLine(result);
    }

    public static int Factorial(int n)
    {
        int result = 1;
        for (int i = 2; i <= n; i++)
        {
            result *= i;
        }
        return result;
    }
}
Q8: What will be the output of the following code snippet?
(Intermediate)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string s = "Hello";
        string t = s;
        s = s + " World";
        Console.WriteLine($"s: {s}, t: {t}");
    }
}

Answer: The output will be:
s: Hello World, t: Hello

Q9: Improve the performance of the following code that checks if an array contains duplicate elements.
(Advanced)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 };
        bool hasDuplicates = HasDuplicates(numbers);
        Console.WriteLine(hasDuplicates);
    }

    public static bool HasDuplicates(int[] numbers)
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Length; i++)
        {
            for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.Length; j++)
            {
                if (numbers[i] == numbers[j])
                {
                    return true;
                }
            }
        }
        return false;
    }
}

Using a HashSet to track seen elements can improve performance by reducing the time complexity to O(n).


public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 };
        bool hasDuplicates = HasDuplicates(numbers);
        Console.WriteLine(hasDuplicates);
    }

    public static bool HasDuplicates(int[] numbers)
    {
        HashSet seenNumbers = new HashSet();
        foreach (int number in numbers)
        {
            if (!seenNumbers.Add(number))
            {
                return true;
            }
        }
        return false;
    }
}
Q10: Write a C# program to find the second largest element in an array.
(Advanced)

public class Program
{
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int[] numbers = { 1, 5, 2, 9, 7 };
        int secondLargest = FindSecondLargest(numbers);
        Console.WriteLine($"Second largest element: {secondLargest}");
    }

    public static int FindSecondLargest(int[] numbers)
    {
        if (numbers.Length < 2)
            throw new ArgumentException("Array must contain at least two elements.");

        int largest = int.MinValue;
        int secondLargest = int.MinValue;

        foreach (int number in numbers)
        {
            if (number > largest)
            {
                secondLargest = largest;
                largest = number;
            }
            else if (number > secondLargest && number != largest)
            {
                secondLargest = number;
            }
        }

        return secondLargest;
    }
}

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Overview of C#

What is C#?

What is the history and latest trends in C# development?

What are some of the popular frameworks and libraries associated with C#?

  • .NET Framework: A software framework developed by Microsoft that provides a controlled programming environment for developing and running applications.
  • ASP.NET: A web application framework designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages.
  • Entity Framework: An open-source ORM framework for ADO.NET.
  • Xamarin: A Microsoft-owned framework for cross-platform mobile app development.
  • Unity: A cross-platform game engine used primarily for developing video games and simulations.

What are the use cases of C#?

  • Windows Applications: Developing robust desktop applications for Windows.
  • Web Applications: Building dynamic websites and web applications using ASP.NET.
  • Mobile Applications: Cross-platform mobile development with Xamarin.
  • Game Development: Creating 2D and 3D games using the Unity engine.
  • Cloud Services: Developing scalable and secure cloud services with Azure and .NET Core.

What are some of the tech roles associated with expertise in C#?

  • C# Developer: Develops applications using C# and .NET.
  • Software Engineer: Works on various software development projects, often using C#.
  • Game Developer: Specializes in creating games using C# and Unity.
  • Web Developer: Builds and maintains web applications using ASP.NET.
  • Mobile Developer: Develops mobile applications using Xamarin.

What pay package can be expected with experience in C#?

  • Junior C# Developer (0-2 years experience): $90,000 - $110,565 per year.
  • Mid-Level C# Developer (3-5 years experience): $111,187 - $146,250 per year.
  • Senior C# Developer (5+ years experience): $150,000 - $170,000 per year.
  • Software Engineer: $100,000 - $155,000 per year.
  • Game Developer: $85,000 - $120,000 per year.