C# String Interpolation

C# String Interpolation and Examples

C# interpolation is a feature introduced in C# 6.0 that allows you to embed expressions directly in string literals. It greatly simplifies string formatting. Let's explore various examples of C# interpolation.

Basic Interpolation

In its simplest form, C# interpolation allows you to insert variables and expressions within a string. For example:

        
string name = "Alice";
int age = 25;
string message = $"My name is {name} and I am {age} years old.";
        
    

The resulting message variable contains: "My name is Alice and I am 25 years old."

Mathematical Expressions

C# interpolation is not limited to simple variable insertion. You can perform mathematical operations within the interpolated expression. For instance:

        
int a = 10;
int b = 5;
string result = $"The sum of {a} and {b} is {a + b}.";
        
    

The result variable contains: "The sum of 10 and 5 is 15."

Date Formatting

Interpolation can also be used to format dates conveniently. Here's an example:

        
DateTime currentDate = DateTime.Now;
string formattedDate = $"Today is {currentDate:yyyy-MM-dd}.";
        
    

This will produce a string like "Today is 2023-10-23."

Object Properties

Interpolation can be applied to object properties, making it useful for creating custom output. For example:

        
class Person
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Age { get; set; }
}

var person = new Person { Name = "Bob", Age = 30 };
string description = $"This is {person.Name}, and they are {person.Age} years old.";
        
    

The description variable contains: "This is Bob, and they are 30 years old."

Alternatives

While C# interpolation is great, there are some alternatives you can consider for string formatting:

String.Format Method

The String.Format method allows you to format strings by specifying placeholders and providing values as arguments. For example:

        
string name = "John";
int age = 30;
string message = string.Format("My name is {0} and I am {1} years old.", name, age);
        
    

String Concatenation

You can also use simple string concatenation using the plus (+) operator:

        
string name = "John";
int age = 30;
string message = "My name is " + name + " and I am " + age + " years old.";
        
    

These alternatives work, but they may be less readable and maintainable compared to C# interpolation. Interpolation is generally the recommended way for string formatting in modern C# development.

In conclusion, C# interpolation is a powerful feature that simplifies string formatting in C#. While there are alternatives, interpolation is the preferred method for creating formatted strings in C#. In summary, C# interpolation is a versatile feature that simplifies string formatting by allowing you to embed variables, expressions, and even perform calculations directly within string literals.