Overview of C# Classes

What is a Class?

• A class serves as a blueprint for creating objects in C#.
• It encompasses properties (attributes) and methods (functions) that the objects instantiated from the class can utilize.

Key Concepts

1. Defining a Class

• A class is defined using the class keyword.
• Example:

public class Car
{
    // Properties
    public string Model;
    public string Color;

    // Method
    public void Drive()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("The car is driving.");
    }
}

2. Creating an Object

• Objects are instances of classes.
• To create an object, use the new keyword followed by the class name.
• Example:

Car myCar = new Car();

3. Accessing Properties and Methods

• You can access properties and methods of a class using the dot (.) operator.
• Example:

myCar.Model = "Toyota";
myCar.Color = "Red";
myCar.Drive(); // Output: The car is driving.

4. Constructors

• A constructor is a special method that initializes an object upon creation.
• It shares the same name as the class and does not return a value.
• Example:

public class Car
{
    public string Model;
    public string Color;

    // Constructor
    public Car(string model, string color)
    {
        Model = model;
        Color = color;
    }
}

Car myCar = new Car("Honda", "Blue");

5. Encapsulation

• Encapsulation refers to restricting access to specific components of an object.
• Access modifiers such as public, private, and protected can be employed to control visibility.

6. Inheritance

• Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class.
• Example:

public class Vehicle
{
    public void Start()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Vehicle starting...");
    }
}

public class Car : Vehicle
{
    public void Drive()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Car is driving.");
    }
}

Car myCar = new Car();
myCar.Start(); // Inherited method
myCar.Drive();

Summary

• Classes are fundamental to object-oriented programming in C#.
• They facilitate the organization of code into manageable sections by grouping related properties and methods.
• A solid understanding of classes is essential for developing robust C# applications.