C# Development for Beginners #7: Value vs Reference Types - The Most Important C# Concept
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Video Description
This is THE most important concept for understanding how C# really works! The difference affects everything from assignments to method calls.
What you'll learn: • Stack vs Heap memory • Value types store data directly • Reference types store addresses • How assignment works differently • Passing to methods (by value vs by reference) • The 'ref' keyword • Common value types (int, structs, enums) • Common reference types (classes, arrays, strings) • The string exception (immutable reference type) • Boxing and unboxing • Performance implications
Critical insight: Bugs that seem impossible often come from not understanding this distinction!
Remember: • Value types copy data • Reference types copy addresses
Previous Video: Variables and Types ► Full Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGxFXI4dC2shfDgudNdh1FtSLcAZG0-Ba ► Code Repository: https://github.com/benday-inc/csharp-for-beginners-2025
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#CSharp #ValueTypes #ReferenceTypes #Memory #Programming
0:00 Value vs Reference Types Deep Dive 0:01 www.benday.com 0:22 Why This Matters So Much 0:39 Memory: Stack vs Heap 1:17 Value Types in Memory 1:26 Reference Types in Memory 1:35 The Assignment Gotcha 1:45 Passing to Methods 1:58 The 'ref' Keyword 2:08 Common Value Types 2:31 Common Reference Types 2:55 The String Exception 3:05 Boxing and Unboxing 3:14 Performance Implications 3:30 Common Mistakes to Avoid 3:54 Key Takeaways 4:24 Next: Working with Strings
Video Info
- Duration: 4:40
- Published: October 10, 2025
