If String is a reference type, then why......?

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Hi,
If String is a reference type, then why strOriginal1 is not changed from "Original String2" to "Original String3" ?

C#

string strOriginal1 = "Original String1";
 string strOriginal2 = "Original String2";

 strOriginal1 = strOriginal2;

 strOriginal2 = "Original String3";
Console.WriteLine("Value of strOriginal1 at call: {0}", strOriginal1);
Console.WriteLine( "Value of strOriginal2 at call: {0}", strOriginal2 );
Console.ReadLine();

Output:

Original String2
Original String3

Posted 21-Sep-11 20:36pm

ahsanriaz1K

Updated 21-Sep-11 20:39pm

v2

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lukeer · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-21T21:12:00

For immutable types (like strings are), the assignment operator copies content instead of creating another reference to the same object.
Therefore

C#

strOriginal1 = strOriginal2;

doesn't make strOriginal1 reference the same object as strOriginal2. Instead they stay separate objects which have identical values at the moment. Later changes to the latter don't affect the former.

Mehdi Gholam · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-21T20:39:00

Solution 1

Strings are immutable objects in .net and their values are copied in the assignment statements.

In the statement

C#

strOriginal2 = "Original String3";

You are assigning strOriginal2 to a new reference which is pointing to the "Original String3" value.

Posted 21-Sep-11 20:39pm

Mehdi Gholam

Updated 21-Sep-11 20:45pm

v2

Comments

Dalek Dave 22-Sep-11 3:43am

Good Call Mehdi.

Mehdi Gholam 22-Sep-11 4:06am

Cheers!