What are the differences between the ref and out keywords?
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What are the differences between the ref and out keywords?
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The following table describes the differences between the
| The ref keyword is used to pass arguments by reference and must be explicitly initialized. | The out keyword is used to pass arguments by reference and need not be explicitly initialized. |
| The method that has received the ref argument may or may not change the value of the ref argument. | The method that has received the out argument must explicitly initialize the value of the out argument. |
| To use a ref parameter, both the method definition and the calling method must explicitly use the ref keyword. | To use an out parameter, both the method definition and the calling method must explicitly use the out keyword. |
class RefExample { public static void Main() { int test=100; Console.Write(test);//print 100 RefMethod(ref test);//call method Console.Write(test);//print 200 } public void RefMethod(ref int test1) { test1+=100; Console.Write(tes1);//print 200 } } | class OutExample { public static void Main() { int test; Console.Write(test);//garbage value OutMethod(out test);//call method Console.Write(test);//print 100 } public void OutMethod(out int test1) { test1=100; Console.Write(test1);//print 100 } } |
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