Actually I didn't get the purpose of "this" generally. What does it refers to? Where do we use it effectively?

Question

Steven Parker · Accepted Answer

:point_right: The keyword "this" generally refers to the current instance of a class.
Some examples of where it would be used can be found on this MSDN page (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dk1507sz.aspx).
In addition to the examples shown there, it is also used when defining extension methods (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us//library/bb383977.aspx), which have their own workshop here: C# Extension Methods (https://teamtreehouse.com/library/c-extension-methods).

Andy DeBruhl · Answer

this refers to the current instance of an object.  Taking the example code from above...
'''
      class Program
               {
              string x;                                    
              public void input()                  
                    { 
                     this.x  = System.Console.ReadLine();   
                     }
          public static void Main()
            {
            Program  pro = new Program();                
            pro.input();                                                 
           Console.System.Write(pro.x);
        }

}
''''
imagine when pro.Input is called that pro is where this is.....so pro.x inside of the input() method, this is replaced with pro which is the instance of the object.  I have no idea if that helps but that is how i understand this.

Maddalena Menolascina · Answer

I never fully understood its purpose, sorry but none of the above links helped me out... has anybody got a very simple example? Thank you very much

Avan Sharma · Answer

"this" keyword is used to refer the object which is calling the function.
Note: All class member functions require an object for them to invoke unless they are static. The object which invokes the method will be referred using the keyword this.
```Example:  
      class Program
               {
              string x;                                    
              public void input()                  
                    { 
                     this.x  = System.Console.ReadLine();   
                     }
          public static void Main()
            {
            Program  pro = new Program();                
            pro.input();                                                 
           Console.System.Write(pro.x);
        }

}
```

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Koray Erkan

Koray Erkan

Actually I didn't get the purpose of "this" generally. What does it refers to? Where do we use it effectively?

4 Answers

Steven Parker

Steven Parker

The keyword "this" generally refers to the current instance of a class.

Andy DeBruhl

Andy DeBruhl

Avan Sharma

Avan Sharma

"this" keyword is used to refer the object which is calling the function.

Maddalena Menolascina

Maddalena Menolascina