CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#
TAHA SULTAN TEMURI
TAHA SULTAN TEMURI

Reputation: 5261

Difference Between "in" Operator and Simple Value Pass c#

According to c# 7.2

The "in" operator Passes a variable in to a method by reference. Cannot be set inside the method.

and we can write method like this

 public static int Add(in int number1, in int number2)
 {
   return number1 + number2;
 }

and call it using

 Add(ref myNo,4);

Now my question is that, what is the Big difference between calling that one and this one**(with or without "in" operator)**

public static int Add(int number1, in int number2)
 {
   return number1 + number2;
 }

and Call like

Add(3,4);

This code also does the same the

it could not be set if we want

,so if the only difference between "in" and without "in" is that we cannot set inside method? or not. if no please give me another example.

Upvotes: 8

Views: 219

Answers (1)

Ehsan Sajjad
Ehsan Sajjad

Reputation: 62498

The following clearly explains the purpose :

passes a variable in to a method by reference. Cannot be set inside the method.

From Official DOCS:

The in modifier on parameters, to specify that an argument is passed by reference but not modified by the called method.

The only difference is that the incoming parameters value cannot be set within the method when parameters are having in operator while in normal parameters we can set whatever value we want, using in we restrict from doing that.

For example:

 public static int Add(in int number1, in int number2)
 {
   number1 = 2; // this will give compile time error as we cannot set it.
   return number1 + number2;
 }

while in normal case we can set whenever we want though in the example it does not makes sense to set but clearly explains the difference:

 public static int Add(int number1,int number2)
 {
   number1 = 2; // this works.
   return number1 + number2;
 }

So, we can say that the method parameters become immutable technically.

You can read more details about it here.

Upvotes: 7

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