What is the difference between a value type and a reference type

In C#, data types can be categorized into two main categories: value types and reference types. Understanding the difference between these two types is crucial for effective programming.

Value Types

Value types hold the actual data directly. They are stored in the stack and include types such as integers, floats, and structs. Each instance of a value type has its own copy of the data.

Reference Types

Reference types, on the other hand, store references to the actual data, which is stored in the heap. Types such as strings, arrays, and classes fall under this category. When a reference type is assigned to a variable, it copies the reference, not the actual data.

Example

// Value Type int a = 10; int b = a; // b gets a copy of a b = 20; // Changing b won't affect a // Reference Type string x = "Hello"; string y = x; // y gets a reference to x y = "World"; // Changing y won't change x

Value Types Reference Types C# Data Types Programming

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