C# formatting options

The formatting options in this article apply only to C# code. These are options for code-style rule IDE0055.

New-line options

The new-line options concern the use of new lines to format code.

• csharp_new_line_before_open_brace
• csharp_new_line_before_else
• csharp_new_line_before_catch
• csharp_new_line_before_finally
• csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers
• csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types
• csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses

Example .editorconfig file:

#  CSharp formatting rules:
[*.cs]
csharp_new_line_before_open_brace = methods, properties, control_blocks, types
csharp_new_line_before_else = true
csharp_new_line_before_catch = true
csharp_new_line_before_finally = true
csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers = true
csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types = true
csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses = true

csharp_new_line_before_open_brace

This option concerns whether an open brace { should be placed on the same line as the preceding code, or on a new line. For this rule, you specify all, none, or one or more code elements such as methods or properties, to define when this rule should be applied. To specify multiple code elements, separate them with a comma (,).

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_before_open_brace
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	all	Require braces to be on a new line for all expressions ("Allman" style).
	none	Require braces to be on the same line for all expressions ("K&R").
	accessors, anonymous_methods, anonymous_types, control_blocks, events, indexers, lambdas, local_functions, methods, object_collection_array_initializers, properties, types	Require braces to be on a new line for the specified code element ("Allman" style).
Default option value	all

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_before_open_brace = all
void MyMethod()
{
    if (...)
    {
        ...
    }
}

// csharp_new_line_before_open_brace = none
void MyMethod() {
    if (...) {
        ...
    }
}

csharp_new_line_before_else

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_before_else
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place else statements on a new line.
	false	Place else statements on the same line.
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_before_else = true
if (...) {
    ...
}
else {
    ...
}

// csharp_new_line_before_else = false
if (...) {
    ...
} else {
    ...
}

csharp_new_line_before_catch

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_before_catch
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place catch statements on a new line.
	false	Place catch statements on the same line.
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_before_catch = true
try {
    ...
}
catch (Exception e) {
    ...
}

// csharp_new_line_before_catch = false
try {
    ...
} catch (Exception e) {
    ...
}

csharp_new_line_before_finally

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_before_finally
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Require finally statements to be on a new line after the closing brace.
	false	Require finally statements to be on the same line as the closing brace.
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_before_finally = true
try {
    ...
}
catch (Exception e) {
    ...
}
finally {
    ...
}

// csharp_new_line_before_finally = false
try {
    ...
} catch (Exception e) {
    ...
} finally {
    ...
}

csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Require members of object initializers to be on separate lines
	false	Require members of object initializers to be on the same line
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers = true
var z = new B()
{
    A = 3,
    B = 4
}

// csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers = false
var z = new B()
{
    A = 3, B = 4
}

csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Require members of anonymous types to be on separate lines
	false	Require members of anonymous types to be on the same line
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types = true
var z = new
{
    A = 3,
    B = 4
}

// csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types = false
var z = new
{
    A = 3, B = 4
}

csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Require elements of query expression clauses to be on separate lines
	false	Require elements of query expression clauses to be on the same line
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses = true
var q = from a in e
        from b in e
        select a * b;

// csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses = false
var q = from a in e from b in e
        select a * b;

Indentation options

The indentation options concern the use of indentation to format code.

• csharp_indent_case_contents
• csharp_indent_switch_labels
• csharp_indent_labels
• csharp_indent_block_contents
• csharp_indent_braces
• csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block

Example .editorconfig file:

#  CSharp formatting rules:
[*.cs]
csharp_indent_case_contents = true
csharp_indent_switch_labels = true
csharp_indent_labels = flush_left
csharp_indent_block_contents = true
csharp_indent_braces = false
csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block = true

csharp_indent_case_contents

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_indent_case_contents
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Indent switch case contents
	false	Do not indent switch case contents
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_indent_case_contents = true
switch(c) {
    case Color.Red:
        Console.WriteLine("The color is red");
        break;
    case Color.Blue:
        Console.WriteLine("The color is blue");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("The color is unknown.");
        break;
}

// csharp_indent_case_contents = false
switch(c) {
    case Color.Red:
    Console.WriteLine("The color is red");
    break;
    case Color.Blue:
    Console.WriteLine("The color is blue");
    break;
    default:
    Console.WriteLine("The color is unknown.");
    break;
}

csharp_indent_switch_labels

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_indent_switch_labels
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Indent switch labels
	false	Do not indent switch labels
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_indent_switch_labels = true
switch(c) {
    case Color.Red:
        Console.WriteLine("The color is red");
        break;
    case Color.Blue:
        Console.WriteLine("The color is blue");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("The color is unknown.");
        break;
}

// csharp_indent_switch_labels = false
switch(c) {
case Color.Red:
    Console.WriteLine("The color is red");
    break;
case Color.Blue:
    Console.WriteLine("The color is blue");
    break;
default:
    Console.WriteLine("The color is unknown.");
    break;
}

csharp_indent_labels

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_indent_labels
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	flush_left	Labels are placed at the leftmost column
	one_less_than_current	Labels are placed at one less indent to the current context
	no_change	Labels are placed at the same indent as the current context
Default option value	one_less_than_current

Code examples:

// csharp_indent_labels= flush_left
class C
{
    private string MyMethod(...)
    {
        if (...) {
            goto error;
        }
error:
        throw new Exception(...);
    }
}

// csharp_indent_labels = one_less_than_current
class C
{
    private string MyMethod(...)
    {
        if (...) {
            goto error;
        }
    error:
        throw new Exception(...);
    }
}

// csharp_indent_labels= no_change
class C
{
    private string MyMethod(...)
    {
        if (...) {
            goto error;
        }
        error:
        throw new Exception(...);
    }
}

csharp_indent_block_contents

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_indent_block_contents
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Indent block contents.
	false	Don't indent block contents.
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_indent_block_contents = true
static void Hello()
{
    Console.WriteLine("Hello");
}

// csharp_indent_block_contents = false
static void Hello()
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello");
}

csharp_indent_braces

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_indent_braces
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Indent curly braces.
	false	Don't indent curly braces.
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_indent_braces = true
static void Hello()
    {
    Console.WriteLine("Hello");
    }

// csharp_indent_braces = false
static void Hello()
{
    Console.WriteLine("Hello");
}

csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	When it's a block, indent the statement list and curly braces for a case in a switch statement.
	false	When it's a block, don't indent the statement list and curly braces for a case in a switch statement.
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block = true
case 0:
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello");
        break;
    }

// csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block = false
case 0:
{
    Console.WriteLine("Hello");
    break;
}

Spacing options

The spacing options concern the use of space characters to format code.

• csharp_space_after_cast
• csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements
• csharp_space_between_parentheses
• csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause
• csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause
• csharp_space_around_binary_operators
• csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses
• csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses
• csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis
• csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses
• csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses
• csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis
• csharp_space_after_comma
• csharp_space_before_comma
• csharp_space_after_dot
• csharp_space_before_dot
• csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement
• csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement
• csharp_space_around_declaration_statements
• csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets
• csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets
• csharp_space_between_square_brackets

Example .editorconfig file:

#  CSharp formatting rules:
[*.cs]
csharp_space_after_cast = true
csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements = true
csharp_space_between_parentheses = control_flow_statements, type_casts
csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause = true
csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause = true
csharp_space_around_binary_operators = before_and_after
csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses = true
csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis = false
csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses = true
csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis = false
csharp_space_after_comma = true
csharp_space_before_comma = false
csharp_space_after_dot = false
csharp_space_before_dot = false
csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement = true
csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement = false
csharp_space_around_declaration_statements = false
csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets = false
csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets = false
csharp_space_between_square_brackets = false

csharp_space_after_cast

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_after_cast
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place a space character between a cast and the value
	false	Remove space between the cast and the value
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_after_cast = true
int y = (int) x;

// csharp_space_after_cast = false
int y = (int)x;

csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place a space character after a keyword in a control flow statement such as a for loop
	false	Remove space after a keyword in a control flow statement such as a for loop
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements = true
for (int i;i<x;i++) { ... }

// csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements = false
for(int i;i<x;i++) { ... }

csharp_space_between_parentheses

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_parentheses
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	control_flow_statements	Place space between parentheses of control flow statements
	expressions	Place space between parentheses of expressions
	type_casts	Place space between parentheses in type casts
	false (or any other value)	Never add spaces between parentheses

If you omit this rule or use a value other than control_flow_statements, expressions, or type_casts, the setting is not applied.

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_parentheses = control_flow_statements
for ( int i = 0; i < 10; i++ ) { }

// csharp_space_between_parentheses = expressions
var z = ( x * y ) - ( ( y - x ) * 3 );

// csharp_space_between_parentheses = type_casts
int y = ( int )x;

// csharp_space_between_parentheses = false
int y = (int)x;

csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place a space character before the colon for bases or interfaces in a type declaration
	false	Remove space before the colon for bases or interfaces in a type declaration
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause = true
interface I
{

}

class C : I
{

}

// csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause = false
interface I
{

}

class C: I
{

}

csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place a space character after the colon for bases or interfaces in a type declaration
	false	Remove space after the colon for bases or interfaces in a type declaration
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause = true
interface I
{

}

class C : I
{

}

// csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause = false
interface I
{

}

class C :I
{

}

csharp_space_around_binary_operators

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_around_binary_operators
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	before_and_after	Insert space before and after the binary operator
	none	Remove spaces before and after the binary operator
	ignore	Ignore spaces around binary operators
Default option value	before_and_after

Code examples:

// csharp_space_around_binary_operators = before_and_after
return x * (x - y);

// csharp_space_around_binary_operators = none
return x*(x-y);

// csharp_space_around_binary_operators = ignore
return x  *  (x-y);

csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place a space character after the opening parenthesis and before the closing parenthesis of a method declaration parameter list
	false	Remove space characters after the opening parenthesis and before the closing parenthesis of a method declaration parameter list
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses = true
void Bark( int x ) { ... }

// csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses = false
void Bark(int x) { ... }

csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Insert space within empty parameter list parentheses for a method declaration
	false	Remove space within empty parameter list parentheses for a method declaration
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = true
void Goo( )
{
    Goo(1);
}

void Goo(int x)
{
    Goo();
}

// csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = false
void Goo()
{
    Goo(1);
}

void Goo(int x)
{
    Goo();
}

csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Place a space character between the method name and opening parenthesis in the method declaration
	false	Remove space characters between the method name and opening parenthesis in the method declaration
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis = true
void M () { }

// csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis = false
void M() { }

csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Place a space character after the opening parenthesis and before the closing parenthesis of a method call
	false	Remove space characters after the opening parenthesis and before the closing parenthesis of a method call
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses = true
MyMethod( argument );

// csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses = false
MyMethod(argument);

csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Insert space within empty argument list parentheses
	false	Remove space within empty argument list parentheses
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = true
void Goo()
{
    Goo(1);
}

void Goo(int x)
{
    Goo( );
}

// csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = false
void Goo()
{
    Goo(1);
}

void Goo(int x)
{
    Goo();
}

csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Insert space between method call name and opening parenthesis
	false	Remove space between method call name and opening parenthesis
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis = true
void Goo()
{
    Goo (1);
}

void Goo(int x)
{
    Goo ();
}

// csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis = false
void Goo()
{
    Goo(1);
}

void Goo(int x)
{
    Goo();
}

csharp_space_after_comma

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_after_comma
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space after a comma
	false	Remove space after a comma
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_space_after_comma = true
int[] x = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

// csharp_space_after_comma = false
int[] x = new int[] { 1,2,3,4,5 };

csharp_space_before_comma

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_before_comma
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space before a comma
	false	Remove space before a comma
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_before_comma = true
int[] x = new int[] { 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 };

// csharp_space_before_comma = false
int[] x = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

csharp_space_after_dot

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_after_dot
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space after a dot
	false	Remove space after a dot
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_after_dot = true
this. Goo();

// csharp_space_after_dot = false
this.Goo();

csharp_space_before_dot

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_before_dot
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space before a dot
	false	Remove space before a dot
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_before_dot = true
this .Goo();

// csharp_space_before_dot = false
this.Goo();

csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space after each semicolon in a for statement
	false	Remove space after each semicolon in a for statement
Default option value	true

Code examples:

// csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement = true
for (int i = 0; i < x.Length; i++)

// csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement = false
for (int i = 0;i < x.Length;i++)

csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space before each semicolon in a for statement
	false	Remove space before each semicolon in a for statement
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement = true
for (int i = 0 ; i < x.Length ; i++)

// csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement = false
for (int i = 0; i < x.Length; i++)

csharp_space_around_declaration_statements

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_around_declaration_statements
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	ignore	Don't remove extra space characters in declaration statements
	false	Remove extra space characters in declaration statements
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_around_declaration_statements = ignore
int    x    =    0   ;

// csharp_space_around_declaration_statements = false
int x = 0;

csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space before opening square brackets [
	false	Remove space before opening square brackets [
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets = true
int [] numbers = new int [] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

// csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets = false
int[] numbers = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space between empty square brackets [ ]
	false	Remove space between empty square brackets []
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets = true
int[ ] numbers = new int[ ] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

// csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets = false
int[] numbers = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

csharp_space_between_square_brackets

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_space_between_square_brackets
Applicable languages	C#
Option values	true	Insert space characters in non-empty square brackets [ 0 ]
	false	Remove space characters in non-empty square brackets [0]
Default option value	false

Code examples:

// csharp_space_between_square_brackets = true
int index = numbers[ 0 ];

// csharp_space_between_square_brackets = false
int index = numbers[0];

Wrap options

The wrap formatting options concern the use of single lines versus separate lines for statements and code blocks.

• csharp_preserve_single_line_statements
• csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks

Example .editorconfig file:

#  CSharp formatting rules:
[*.cs]
csharp_preserve_single_line_statements = true
csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks = true

csharp_preserve_single_line_statements

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_preserve_single_line_statements
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Leave statements and member declarations on the same line
	false	Leave statements and member declarations on different lines
Default option value	true

Code examples:

//csharp_preserve_single_line_statements = true
int i = 0; string name = "John";

//csharp_preserve_single_line_statements = false
int i = 0;
string name = "John";

csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks

Property	Value	Description
Option name	csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks
Applicable languages	C#
Introduced version	Visual Studio 2017
Option values	true	Leave code block on single line
	false	Leave code block on separate lines
Default option value	true

Code examples:

//csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks = true
public int Foo { get; set; }

//csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks = false
public int MyProperty
{
    get; set;
}

See also

• Formatting rule (IDE0055)