structs in C#

**KansaiRobot** · 08-02-2016

Hello.

I am now starting to program in C# with no formal learning on this language :P by reading a program that I have.
I would appreciate some help.

I have two structs

Code:

private struct firstone
{
   public string name;
   public int[] num;
   public int[,] x;
.....
}

private struct secondone
{
   public string name;
   public double[] num;
.....
}

firstone[] firstvar;
firstone  another;

secondone[] model;
 secondone other;

Then inside the form1 load function I have

Code:

firstvar= new firstone[5];
model= new secondone[5]; 
another=new firstone();

Now look at the last line. The variable another is created ?? with a new with something that must be a constructor to the struct
I guess

however later on, all four variables are used eventhough other was never created with a new!!

I mean, I though new was not necessary in the first place for the variables another and other , so is new needed or not?

and why only in one case and not the other?

**laserlight** · 08-02-2016

You should post the smallest and simplest compilable program that demonstrates what you are talking about.

**swgh** · 08-03-2016

new creates an instance of the object, which has access to data members
of the class/struct.

In your example, secondone is already has an instance, which is model.
When you create other, it becomes a second instance to secondone,
therefore having access to all data members that model has access to.

In C++ or example, If I have a class Player, and an object of ply:

Code:

class Player
{
// blash
};

// main
int main()
{
    Player ply;
}

ply has access to all the data members (if allowed) of the Player class.
Then, if I add another object of the same class...

Code:

Player ply;
Player ply2;

ply2 has the same access (if allowed) as ply. There are small
differences however, access specifiers place restrictions on member
access fro example.

That is the best I can read into it, unless there is something in the code not
present.

**itsme86** · 08-03-2016

Come on, man. This is really easy to google.

Using Structs (C# Programming Guide)

When you create a struct object using the new operator, it gets created and the appropriate constructor is called. Unlike classes, structs can be instantiated without using the new operator. In such a case, there is no constructor call, which makes the allocation more efficient. However, the fields will remain unassigned and the object cannot be used until all of the fields are initialized.

**KansaiRobot** · 08-03-2016

Originally Posted by itsme86

Come on, man. This is really easy to google.

Using Structs (C# Programming Guide)

When you create a struct object using the new operator, it gets created and the appropriate constructor is called. Unlike classes, structs can be instantiated without using the new operator. In such a case, there is no constructor call, which makes the allocation more efficient. However, the fields will remain unassigned and the object cannot be used until all of the fields are initialized.

already googled, that is why I ask.
Let's see what the quote above says:

When you create a struct object using the new operator, it gets created and the appropriate constructor is called.

Alright... In my case there are two variables another and other . And only another gets created with a new operator. Why?

Moreover, the quote implies that there is an appropriate constructor, but in the code I have, there is no constructor for the firstone struct. So, why use new? and why use new only on one struct variable and not on the other?

Unlike classes, structs can be instantiated without using the new operator.

Yes, I can see that, because other never gets instantiated with a new, and yet it is used.

----------
so maybe I should rephrase my question

Can I use single instances of a struct (like another and other) without using new??

(for arrays I suppose I should use new)

(I am starting to think that the guy who wrote the code I have just made a mistake...)

**swgh** · 08-04-2016

Have you tried compiling/running the code? Does it work?
If it does, then step through the code with the debugger and take notice of
how variables and objects change. That may give you some clue. Default
constructors are implemented when the program has no psychical constructor
present. So it may auto-initialize the object from the struct on the data heap
then free it using the garbage collector.

**itsme86** · 08-04-2016

Can I use single instances of a struct (like another and other) without using new??

It tells you right in that snippet that I quoted:

Unlike classes, structs can be instantiated without using the new operator. In such a case, there is no constructor call, which makes the allocation more efficient. However, the fields will remain unassigned and the object cannot be used until all of the fields are initialized.

(for arrays I suppose I should use new)

Not sure what you mean. Instantiating the structs in an array? It doesn't matter if they're in an array or not. The snippet from MSDN still applies.

(I am starting to think that the guy who wrote the code I have just made a mistake...)

Not a coherent sentence.

**Elkvis** · 08-04-2016

In C#, int is a struct. So is double. You don't need to use new on those, do you? A struct is a value type. Value types do not need to, but can be created with new.

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