Methods and Parameter Usage in C#

Originally published at https://allcoderthings.com/en/article/csharp-methods-and-parameter-usage

In C#, methods are used to organize and reuse repetitive code. A method performs a specific task and can be called many times within a program. This helps avoid code duplication and improves readability.

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Defining and Calling Methods

A method is defined with a return type, a name, and optional parameters. For example, the following method prints a simple message:

static void Greet()
{
    Console.WriteLine("Hello!");
}

static void Main()
{
    Greet(); // method call
}

// Output:
Hello!

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Methods with Parameters

Methods can receive values from outside. These are called parameters. In the example below, a name parameter is taken and the greeting message is personalized:

static void Greet(string name)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Hello " + name + "!");
}

static void Main()
{
    Greet("Alice");
    Greet("Bob");
}

// Output:
Hello Alice!
Hello Bob!

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Default Parameters

Parameters can have default values. If no value is passed during the call, the default value is used:

static void PrintMessage(string text = "Default message")
{
    Console.WriteLine(text);
}

static void Main()
{
    PrintMessage("Hello world!");
    PrintMessage();
}

// Output:
Hello world!
Default message

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Parameter vs Argument

A parameter is the name used in the method definition. An argument is the actual value passed when calling the method.

static void Square(int number) // parameter: number
{
    Console.WriteLine(number * number);
}

static void Main()
{
    Square(4); // argument: 4
}

// Output:
16

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Overloading

Methods with the same name but different numbers or types of parameters can be defined. This is called method overloading:

static int Multiply(int a, int b)
{
    return a * b;
}

static int Multiply(int a, int b, int c)
{
    return a * b * c;
}

static void Main()
{
    Console.WriteLine(Multiply(3, 4));
    Console.WriteLine(Multiply(2, 3, 4));
}

// Output:
12
24

Recursion

When a method calls itself, it is called recursion. Each recursion must have a base case; otherwise, the loop will continue infinitely.

static int Factorial(int n)
{
    if (n <= 1)
        return 1; // base case
    return n * Factorial(n - 1); // recursive call
}

static void Main()
{
    Console.WriteLine(Factorial(5)); // 120
}

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ref and out Parameters

In C#, the ref and out keywords allow parameters to be passed by reference. This means changes made inside the method are reflected outside.

// ref example
static void Increment(ref int number)
{
    number++;
}

// out example
static void ReadValue(out int result)
{
    result = 42;
}

static void Main()
{
    int x = 5;
    Increment(ref x);
    Console.WriteLine(x); // 6

    int y;
    ReadValue(out y);
    Console.WriteLine(y); // 42
}

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Multiple Parameters with params

The params keyword allows methods to take a variable number of parameters. You can pass either an array or individual values.

Example: Summing Numbers

static int Add(params int[] numbers)
{
    int sum = 0;
    foreach (int n in numbers)
        sum += n;
    return sum;
}

static void Main()
{
    Console.WriteLine(Add(1, 2, 3));       // 6
    Console.WriteLine(Add(5, 10, 15, 20)); // 50
}

Example: Joining Strings

static string JoinWords(params string[] words)
{
    return string.Join(" ", words);
}

static void Main()
{
    Console.WriteLine(JoinWords("C#", "is", "a", "powerful", "language."));
    // Output: C# is a powerful language.
}

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Local Functions

Starting from C# 7.0, methods can be defined inside another method. These are called local functions. They help write cleaner and more organized code.

static void Main()
{
    int Multiply(int a, int b) // local function
    {
        return a * b;
    }

    Console.WriteLine(Multiply(3, 4)); // 12
}

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-Methods are reusable blocks of code.
-Parameters are used to pass data into methods.
-return is used to return a value.
-Default parameters make code flexible.
-Overloading allows defining methods with the same name but different parameters.
-ref and out parameters allow modifying values by reference.
-params enables variable numbers of parameters.
-Local functions are helper methods defined inside another method.
-Recursion means a method calling itself to solve a problem.