What is C#?
C# is a programming language made by Microsoft for building apps, games, and websites. Think of it as a set of clear instructions in a special language that the computer can follow.
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What is C#?
C# (pronounced "C sharp") is a modern, object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft, led by Anders Hejlsberg, and first released in 2000 as the flagship language of the .NET platform.
It combines the performance and type safety of languages like C++ with a more approachable, productive syntax influenced by Java. C# is used across web development (ASP.NET), desktop applications (WPF, WinForms), game development (Unity), and enterprise backend systems.
Note:
C# is one of the most in-demand languages for enterprise software and game development jobs -- learning it also opens the door to building games in Unity, one of the world's most popular game engines.
Example: What is C#?
using System;
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
}
}Login to try C/C++/Java/PHP code in the editor
Related Topics
{# common_mistakes/chapter_summary/browser_support: on Hindi pages the
view already swaps in the hi_ translation fields (or blanks these
out if untranslated), so this renders correctly for both languages
without a lang_code check here. #}
Common Mistakes
- Thinking C# only runs on Windows, when modern .NET runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Confusing C# (the language) with .NET (the platform and libraries), so learning the syntax is mistaken for knowing the framework.
- Assuming C# is compiled straight to machine code, when it is first compiled to IL and then run by the .NET runtime.
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