new keyword in C#

In C# the “new” keyword can be used in 3 different ways, as operator, modifier and constraint. We all are familiar with new operator usage, i.e. for creating object and invoking constructor.  But other two usages are not much popular in normal coding.

“new” Operator

It is used for instantiating objects and invoking constructors. For example,

BaseClass baseClass = new BaseClass();

“new” Modifier

The new keyword can be used for hiding the inherited member of base class. If the base class and derived class having the member with same name and type, and we need to hide the base class member in child class, then we can use the “new” keyword to hide the base class member.

public class BaseClass

{

    public int GetValue() { return 10; }

}

public class DerrivedClass : BaseClass

{

    public new int GetValue() { return 20; }

}

Here the BaseClass and DerrivedClass have the same method and we are hiding the BaseClass member in DerrivedClass using “new”.

“new” Constraint

Here new keyword is using as part of generic class definition.  If the generic class needs to create any instances of the specified type, then we need to specify the new constraint. As an example,

public class MyFormatter

    where T : IFormattable

    where F : IMyFormatProvider, new()

{

    public T Value { get; set; }

    public MyFormatter(T Value)

    {

        this.Value = Value;

    }

    public string Format()

    {

        F formatter = new F();

        return Value.ToString(formatter.GetFormatter(), null);

    }

}

In this scenario we need to make sure that the specified class having Parameter Less constructor. In this example, we are instantiating new class instance of type F, so we need to specify “new()” over the generic class definition. If we missed to specify “new”, then we will get the build error like” Cannot create an instance of the variable type 'F' because it does not have the new() constraint”.