Difference between Data Member and Feilds

Question

Whats the Difference between Data Member and Feilds

Answer 1

A DataMember is seriallized by a datacontract serializer. Fields that are not marked as DataMember will not be included in the data contract

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.runtime.serialization.datamemberattribute?view=net-5.0

Answer 2

First you need to understand that Microsoft tends to be careless about names. Many names that they choose are confusing. For example Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code sound alike but they are very different. Also the name Core is used in confusing ways.

As indicated by vb2ae, Microsoft uses the name DataMember in a specific manner but that seems to be another example of confusing terminology. Generally speaking, the term member is very general. I am not aware of a specific official definition of member relevant to .Net (as in dotnet Difference between Data Member and Fields - Google Search). And see syntax - Programming terms - field, member, properties (C#) - Stack Overflow; it says:

*"Member" is most commonly used in C++ to refer to member functions, member variables, and so on*

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