Where can you find the C# Language Specifications?

Question

Where can I find the specifications for the various C# languages?

(EDIT: it appears people voted down because you could 'google' this, however, my original intent was to put an answer with information not found on google. I've accepted the answer with the best google results, as they are relevant to people who haven't paid for VS)

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:19

12

Microsoft's version (probably what you want)

The formal standardised versions (via ECMA, created just so they could say it was "standardised" by some external body. Even though ECMA "standards" are effectively "Insert cash, vend standard").

Further ECMA standards

answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:19

Adam Wright

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The Microsoft link is dead - sort of. Well it goes to a somewhat generic Developer tools page now. :( – Caltor Mar 16 '21 at 15:20
Hopefully this one will survive https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/language-specification – Caltor Mar 16 '21 at 15:24

user7116 · Answer 2 · 2013-06-11T13:36:35.920

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If you have Visual Studio 2005 or 2008, they are already on your machine!

For 2005 (English):

.\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC#\Specifications\1033

For 2008 (English):

.\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC#\Specifications\1033

For 2010 (English):

.\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC#\Specifications\1033

For 2012 (English):

.\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\VC#\Specifications\1033

edited Jun 11 '13 at 13:36

answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:15

user7116

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:16

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Found using Google:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/aa336809.aspx

answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:16

Marc Reside

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score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:19

The C# language is an ISO standard and as such the specification can be had from the ISO website at: http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=42926

You can also acquire the specifications direct from Microsoft (.Doc Warning) http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/8/8/388e7205-bc10-4226-b2a8-75351c669b09/CSharp%20Language%20Specification.doc (.Doc Warning)

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:15

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From : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/aa336809.aspx

In .doc format:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/8/8/388e7205-bc10-4226-b2a8-75351c669b09/CSharp%20Language%20Specification.doc

answered Sep 24 '08 at 15:15

GEOCHET

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Where can you find the C# Language Specifications?

5 Answers5

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