C-Sharp

Handling Cancellation in ASP.NET Core: From Browser to Database Ever clicked the stop button while waiting for a web page to load? What actually happens on the server when you do that? In ASP.NET Core apps, without proper cancellation handling, the server keeps working on requests nobody wants anymore. Your server might be burning CPU cycles and holding database connections open for users who have already given up and gone elsewhere. ...

Task vs ValueTask in C#: When to Choose Each One When writing async code in C#, most of us just use Task and Task<T> without thinking twice. But there’s this other option called ValueTask that can actually speed up your code in some situations. Let’s look at what makes these two different and how to pick the right one for your code. The Basics: Task and ValueTask Let’s start with what these two types actually are. ...

Introduction to Primary Constructors in C# 12 C# 12 brings us primary constructors, and honestly, they’re changing the way I write classes, structs, and records. With this feature, you can put constructor parameters right in the class declaration instead of creating a separate constructor method. The result? Way less code that’s much easier to read. Let’s face it, we’ve all written the same constructor code hundreds of times. You know the drill: declare parameters, create private fields, assign values in the constructor body. It’s tedious and easy to mess up. That’s exactly the problem primary constructors solve. ...

Why Immutability Makes Your C# Code Better Have you ever had a bug where some object mysteriously changed its value? Or spent hours debugging a weird race condition? Immutability might be the solution you need. In simple terms, immutable objects can’t be changed after they’re created. Instead of modifying an existing object, you create a new one with the updated values. It’s like the difference between editing a document and making a new copy with your changes. ...

Abstract Class vs Interface in C# When designing class hierarchies in C#, you’ll often face a choice between using interfaces or abstract classes. Both serve as blueprints for other classes, but they have fundamental differences that affect how you design your application. Let me walk you through their key differences with practical examples, so you can make informed decisions in your code architecture. Implementation Capabilities Abstract Classes Abstract classes can contain a mix of implemented methods (with concrete code) and abstract methods (without implementation): ...

Arrays vs ArrayLists in C#: Which One Should You Pick? If you’ve been coding in C# for a while, you’ve probably used both arrays and ArrayLists. Let’s break down the real differences between these two collection types and talk about when you might want to use each one. The Basics: What’s the Difference? An array in C# is pretty straightforward, it’s a fixed-size collection where all elements must be the same type. Once you create it, that’s it, the size is locked in. ...

Understanding Access Modifiers in C# Access modifiers are one of the fundamental building blocks of object-oriented programming in C#. They help you control the visibility and accessibility of your types and members, which is essential for writing secure and maintainable code. I’ve found that understanding access modifiers thoroughly can significantly improve your code architecture and prevent many common bugs related to inappropriate access to class members. Core Access Modifiers C# provides four primary access modifiers that you’ll use regularly: ...

Constructor Chaining in C# Ever written the same initialization code in multiple constructors? Constructor chaining is a neat trick in C# that lets you call one constructor from another in the same class. It’s a simple way to avoid repeating yourself and keep your initialization logic in one place. What’s Constructor Chaining All About? When you’re building a class in C#, you often need different ways to create objects. Maybe sometimes you have all the details, other times just the essential ones. ...

Taming Your Data with C# Annotations Have you ever found yourself writing the same validation code over and over? You know the drill, checking if a field is required, validating email formats, confirming passwords match… it gets repetitive fast. That’s where data annotations come to the rescue! Think of data annotations as sticky notes you attach to your C# properties. These little attributes tell frameworks like ASP.NET Core and Entity Framework how to treat your data without you writing tons of validation logic. ...

Introduction If you’ve been working with C# for any length of time, you’ve probably needed to store data as key-value pairs. The two main contenders for this job are Dictionary<TKey, TValue> and HashTable. They both do similar things, but there are some crucial differences that might make you choose one over the other. In this post, I’ll walk you through both options so you can make the right choice for your project. Trust me, this decision matters more than you might think! ...