C# Value Keyword

Value is used in properties.

In the C# language, we need to declare a type for a parameter in a parameter list. With "value" in property setters, we omit this. The type of value is determined by the enclosing property type.

Example. In this program, each property has a set accessor that uses the value parameter. In the first property, the value parameter is written to the console. In the second, the value is a string. It is checked for a valid state.

Console.WriteLine

C# program that uses value keyword

using System;

class Program
{
    int PropertyInt
    {
	get
	{
	    return 1;
	}
	set
	{
	    Console.WriteLine(value);
	}
    }

    string _backing;

    string PropertyString
    {
	get
	{
	    return this._backing;
	}
	set
	{
	    if (value == null)
	    {
		throw new ArgumentNullException("value");
	    }
	    this._backing = value;
	}
    }

    static void Main()
    {
	Program program = new Program();

	// Use PropertyInt.
	program.PropertyInt = 5;
	Console.WriteLine(program.PropertyInt);

	// Use PropertyString.
	program.PropertyString = "test";
	Console.WriteLine(program.PropertyString);
    }
}

Output

5
1
test

You can assign value. This is not common, but you can assign the "value" parameter to a new value. So if you want to change a "value" of null to an empty string literal in the second property above, this is possible.

NullEmpty Strings

Discussion. The C# specification refers to the value parameter in its description of Accessors in section 10.7 Properties. On page 481, it states "The implicit parameter of a set accessor is always named value."

Also, it might help with understanding how the C# language works to investigate how "value" is implemented here. Properties are actually compiled into methods such as Set_PropertyInt and Get_PropertyInt.

Intermediate Language

Then: The set method has a regular formal parameter list. The formal parameter has the identifier "value".

Summary. In this example, we examined the value parameter in properties. We looked at a code example, referenced the language specification. We then discovered the underlying implementation of the value parameter in properties.

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