Data Types (C# Programming Guide) 

C# is a strongly typed language; therefore every variable and object must have a declared type.

Data Types Overview

A data type can be described as being either:

• A built-in data type, such as an int or char, or

• A user-defined data type, such as a class or interface.

• Data types can also be defined as being either:

• Value Types (C# Reference), which store values, or

• Reference Types (C# Reference), which store references to the actual data.

Related Sections

For more information:

• Casting (C# Programming Guide)

• Boxing and Unboxing (C# Programming Guide)

• Types (C# Reference)

• Objects, Classes and Structs (C# Programming Guide)

C# Language Specification

For more information about types, see the following sections in the C# Language Specification:

• 1.3 Types and Variables

• 3.8 Namespace and Type Names

• 4.1 Value Types

• 4.2 Reference Types

• 4.3 Boxing and Unboxing

See Also

Reference

Data Types Compared in Different Languages
Integral Types Table (C# Reference)

Concepts

C# Programming Guide
Conversion of XML Data Types

Other Resources

C# Reference