How are Static Variables Initialized in C#?

Initialization of Static Variables in C#

In C#, static variables are initialized differently depending on the presence of a static constructor and the beforefieldinit flag.

Initialization without a Static Constructor

If there is no static constructor defined within a class, static variables are initialized:

• When the type is loaded into memory.
• Before any instance constructors are called.
• Eagerly, meaning the values are assigned immediately.

Initialization with a Static Constructor

When a static constructor is present:

• beforefieldinit Flag:

  • false: Static variables are initialized before the static constructor is called.
  • true: Static variables are initialized lazily, when they are first accessed.
• .NET 4 and Earlier: beforefieldinit defaults to false, resulting in eager initialization.
• .NET 4.5 and Later: beforefieldinit defaults to true, leading to lazy initialization.

Conclusion

The initialization of static variables in C# depends on the presence of a static constructor and the value of the beforefieldinit flag. To ensure proper initialization, it is recommended to not rely on any specific behavior and simply use regular code to access static fields.

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