C# Tutorial - Full Course for Beginners

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore the fundamentals of C# programming through a comprehensive course structured around various essential topics. From installation to advanced concepts like classes, inheritance, and exception handling, this guide will provide you with a step-by-step understanding of C# programming. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your skills, this tutorial will help you grasp key concepts and start writing your own C# applications.

Chapter 1: Installation and Setup

To get started with C#, you'll need to set up your development environment. Follow these steps:

1. Download Visual Studio Community:

   • Go to the Visual Studio website: visualstudio.com/vs/community.
   • Choose to download the version suitable for your operating system (Windows or Mac).

2. Install Visual Studio:

   • Run the installer after downloading.
   • When prompted, select the .NET Desktop Development workload, as this will allow you to create console applications.

3. Create Your First Project:

   • Launch Visual Studio and select File > New Project.
   • Choose a Console App (.NET) template.
   • Name your project and click OK.

4. Start Coding:

   • You will see a default Program.cs file created. This file contains a basic structure for your C# application.

Chapter 2: Writing Your First C# Program

Let's write a simple program that outputs "Hello, World!" to the console.

1. Open the Program.cs file.
2. Modify the Main method:

   using System;
   
   class Program
   {
       static void Main(string[] args)
       {
           Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
       }
   }
   

3. Run Your Program:
   • Click the Start button in Visual Studio to execute the program.

Chapter 3: Using Variables

Variables are essential for storing data. Here’s how to use them effectively in C#:

1. Declaring Variables:

   string characterName = "George";
   int characterAge = 70;
   

2. Printing Variables:

   Console.WriteLine($"There once was a man named {characterName}, he was {characterAge} years old.");
   

3. Changing Variable Values:

   • You can update variable values like this:

   characterName = "John";
   characterAge = 35;
   

Chapter 4: Data Types

Understand the different data types available in C#:

1. String: For text data.
2. Int: For whole numbers.
3. Double: For decimal numbers.
4. Bool: For true/false values.

Example of declaring different data types:

string phrase = "Hello, World!";
int number = 10;
double pi = 3.14;
bool isActive = true;

Chapter 5: Control Flow with If Statements

If statements allow your program to make decisions based on conditions.

1. Basic If Statement:

   if (isActive)
   {
       Console.WriteLine("The user is active.");
   }
   

2. If-Else Statement:

   if (characterAge > 30)
   {
       Console.WriteLine("Older than 30.");
   }
   else
   {
       Console.WriteLine("30 or younger.");
   }
   

3. Multiple Conditions:

   • Combine conditions using && (AND) or || (OR).

Chapter 6: Loops

Loops are used to repeat a block of code.

1. While Loop:

   int index = 0;
   while (index < 5)
   {
       Console.WriteLine(index);
       index++;
   }
   

2. For Loop:

   for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
   {
       Console.WriteLine(i);
   }
   

3. Do-While Loop:

   • Executes at least once before checking the condition.

   do
   {
       Console.WriteLine(index);
       index++;
   } while (index < 5);
   

Chapter 7: Exception Handling

Handle errors gracefully using try-catch blocks.

1. Try-Catch Example:

   try
   {
       int result = 10 / 0; // This will throw an exception.
   }
   catch (DivideByZeroException e)
   {
       Console.WriteLine("Cannot divide by zero.");
   }
   

Chapter 8: Classes and Objects

Learn how to create classes and objects for better organization of your code.

1. Creating a Class:

   public class Book
   {
       public string Title { get; set; }
       public string Author { get; set; }
       public int Pages { get; set; }
   
       public Book(string title, string author, int pages)
       {
           Title = title;
           Author = author;
           Pages = pages;
       }
   }
   

2. Creating an Object:

   Book myBook = new Book("Harry Potter", "J.K. Rowling", 400);
   Console.WriteLine(myBook.Title);
   

Chapter 9: Constructors

Constructors are special methods used for initializing objects.

1. Using a Constructor:
   • Initialize attributes when creating an object using a constructor.

Chapter 10: Inheritance

Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class.

1. Creating a Base Class and a Derived Class:

   public class Chef
   {
       public void MakeChicken() { Console.WriteLine("The chef makes chicken."); }
   }
   
   public class ItalianChef : Chef
   {
       public void MakePasta() { Console.WriteLine("The chef makes pasta."); }
   }
   

Chapter 11: Static Methods and Attributes

Understand how static methods and attributes function.

1. Static Method Example:

   public static void DisplayMessage()
   {
       Console.WriteLine("This is a static method.");
   }
   

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered a wide range of C# programming concepts, from installation to more advanced topics such as classes, inheritance, and exception handling. By following these steps, you can start building your own applications and deepen your understanding of C#. Continue practicing these concepts and consider exploring more advanced topics like interfaces and asynchronous programming. Happy coding!