When Are Static Variables Initialized in C#?

Static Variable Initialization in C#

When working with static variables in C#, it's crucial to understand the timing of their initialization.

Timing of Static Variable Initialization

Static variables are initialized when:

• Static constructor is present: If a class has a static constructor (static MyStaticConstructor()), static variables are initialized when the static constructor is called for the first time.
• No static constructor: If there is no static constructor, static variables are initialized when the type is loaded into memory.

Type Loading Trigger

Class loading is triggered by:

• Creating an instance of the class
• Accessing a static member of the class
• The class being explicitly loaded using reflection

Additional Considerations

• In .NET 4, static variable initialization became more "lazy," meaning they are initialized only when first accessed.
• If the beforefieldinit flag is set, static variables are initialized before any instance constructor is called. This flag is set by the presence of a static constructor.
• To ensure consistent behavior, it's recommended to avoid relying on specific initialization timing and simply initialize static variables through regular code access.

For further details and a comprehensive explanation, refer to Jon Skeet's article linked in the original response.

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