What does this line with auto-implemented properties with a static class mean?

Question

I'm following the instructions for testing an azure function here and I came across this line of code:

public static NullScope Instance { get; } = new NullScope();

I've read this SO answer, so I understand auto-implemented properties, but I don't know how it combines with the static keyword.

Is this just creating a new Nullscope that you can only access and not set? Or does this create a new NullScope every time you get it? If possible, could you expand the line of code for better understanding?

thats a readonly property that returns the same reference everytime. — Daniel A. White, Apr 29 '19 at 18:50
The first: it creates an instance at the very first access of the class containing the property, and sets its value to the instance. It will be practically read-only. — ZorgoZ, Apr 29 '19 at 18:51
Can someone please explain the downvotes and how I could improve upon this question for next time? — Jeremy W, Apr 29 '19 at 20:24

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 29 '19 at 18:54

Is this just creating a new Nullscope that you can only access and not set?

Yes, exactly.

Or does this create a new NullScope every time you get it?

No, that would look more like this:

public static NullScope Instance
{
    get => new NullScope();
}

Notice that the former has a standard auto-implemented getter and uses some relatively recent syntax to set a value to the auto-implemented backing member, whereas the latter uses a custom getter which is just an "expression bodied member" which, when invoked, returns an object.

What does this line with auto-implemented properties with a static class mean?

1 Answers1