initializing variables in c#

Question

I'm a bit confused.

I have the following code:

public class MyClass
{
  public string DoSomething(string TheString)
  {
     int TheID;
     string TheString = "";
  }
}

This works fine; it compiles. However, why doesn't this work?

public class MyClass
{
  public string DoSomething(string TheString)
  {
     private int TheID {get;set;}
     private string TheString {get;set;}
  }
}

I want to make these variables private. What do I need to change?

properties cant not be part of methods. Its always part of class. — Zenwalker
– Zenwalker, Commented Dec 22, 2011 at 3:38

shf301 · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-22 03:33:10Z

5

Private variables are only valid at the class level:

public class MyClass { 
   private int TheID {get;set;} 
   private string TheString {get;set;}

   public string DoSomething(string TheString)   {

   }
  }

Variables defined inside a method are local in scope and they only exist inside that method. Nothing outside the method can access them. It makes no sense to declare a local variable as private.

answered Dec 22, 2011 at 3:33

shf301

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2 Comments

Florian Over a year ago

Just a question : Why use private properties instead of use private members ?

shf301 Over a year ago

@Florian, that was the example frenchie gave in his question. Normally it would be private fields instead of private properties.

Pubby · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-22 03:31:32Z

2

They are scoped inside the method - you can't access them outside of it. You can think of them as being private.

answered Dec 22, 2011 at 3:31

Pubby

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