Introduction to Methods in C#

What is a Method?

A method is a block of code that performs a specific task. It is a way to organize code into reusable units. Methods are used to perform actions, and they can take inputs and return outputs.

Defining a Method

In C#, a method is defined with the following syntax:

returnType MethodName(parameters)
{
    // Method body
}
                

Here's a simple method example:

public int Add(int a, int b)
{
    return a + b;
}
                

Calling a Method

To use a method, you need to call it. Here is how you call the Add method defined above:

int result = Add(5, 3);
Console.WriteLine(result); // Output: 8
                

Method Parameters

Methods can have parameters to accept inputs. Parameters are specified in the method definition within the parentheses.

Example:

public void Greet(string name)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Hello, " + name);
}
                

Calling the method:

Greet("Alice"); // Output: Hello, Alice
                

Return Types

Methods can return a value. The return type is specified before the method name. Use void if the method does not return a value.

public int Multiply(int a, int b)
{
    return a * b;
}
                

Calling the method and using the returned value:

int product = Multiply(4, 5);
Console.WriteLine(product); // Output: 20
                

Method Overloading

Method overloading allows you to define multiple methods with the same name but different signatures (different parameter types or number of parameters).

Example:

public void Print(int number)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Number: " + number);
}

public void Print(string text)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Text: " + text);
}
                

Calling the overloaded methods:

Print(10);      // Output: Number: 10
Print("Hello"); // Output: Text: Hello
                

Static Methods

Static methods belong to the class itself rather than an instance of the class. They are called using the class name.

Example:

public class MathHelper
{
    public static int Square(int number)
    {
        return number * number;
    }
}
                

Calling the static method:

int squared = MathHelper.Square(4);
Console.WriteLine(squared); // Output: 16
                

Summary

In this tutorial, we covered the basics of methods in C#. We learned how to define and call methods, use parameters, return values, and implement method overloading. We also discussed static methods. Understanding methods is crucial for writing organized and reusable code.