Static Constructors
A static constructor is used to initialize any static data, or to perform a particular action that needs performed once only. It is called automatically before the first instance is created or any static members are referenced.
Static constructors have the following properties:
- A static constructor does not take access modifiers or have parameters.
- A static constructor is called automatically to initialize the class before the first instance is created or any static members are referenced.
- A static constructor cannot be called directly.
- The user has no control on when the static constructor is executed in the program.
- A typical use of static constructors is when the class is using a log file and the constructor is used to write entries to this file.
- Static constructors are also useful when creating wrapper classes for unmanaged code, when the constructor can call the LoadLibrary method.
Consider the following example for working of static constructors :
Example
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Diagnostics;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
class Program
{
static int x;
static Program()
{
x = 14212;
}
static void function1()
{
Console.WriteLine(x);
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
function1();
Console.Read();
}
}
}
