SecureString.Clear Method

Definition

Deletes the value of the current secure string.

public void Clear ();

Exceptions

This secure string has already been disposed.

This secure string is read-only.

Examples

The following example demonstrates how the AppendChar, InsertAt, RemoveAt, SetAt, and Clear methods affect the value of a SecureString object.

using System;
using System.Security;

class SecureStringExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
       string msg = "The current length of the SecureString object: {0}\n";
       Console.WriteLine("1) Instantiate the SecureString object.");
       SecureString ss = new SecureString();
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("2) Append 'a' to the value.");
       ss.AppendChar('a');
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("3) Append 'X' to the value.");
       ss.AppendChar('X');
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("4) Append 'c' to the value.");
       ss.AppendChar('c');
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("5) Insert 'd' at the end of the value.");
       ss.InsertAt(ss.Length, 'd');
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("6) Remove the last character ('d') from the value.");
       ss.RemoveAt(3);
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("7) Set the second character of the value to 'b'.");
       ss.SetAt(1, 'b');
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       Console.WriteLine("8) Delete the value of the SecureString object:");
       ss.Clear();
       Console.WriteLine(msg, ss.Length);

       ss.Dispose();
    }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       1) Instantiate the SecureString object.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 0
//
//       2) Append 'a' to the value.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 1
//
//       3) Append 'X' to the value.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 2
//
//       4) Append 'c' to the value.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 3
//
//       5) Insert 'd' at the end of the value.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 4
//
//       6) Remove the last character ('d') from the value.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 3
//
//       7) Set the second character of the value to 'b'.
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 3
//
//       8) Delete the value of the SecureString object:
//       The current length of the SecureString object: 0

Remarks

The computer memory that contains the value of this secure string is zeroed, then the length of the value of this secure string is set to zero.

Applies to

Product Versions
.NET Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
.NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 2.0, 2.1

See also