C# Academy · Lesson

Constants and readonly Fields

Distinguish const from static readonly.

Constants and readonly Fields is a free C# Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C# Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Two Ways to Make Values Fixed

C# offers const and readonly for values that should not change. They look similar but behave very differently. This lesson compares them.

using System;

class Config
{
    public const double Pi = 3.14159;
    public static readonly DateTime StartedAt = DateTime.Now;
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Pi = " + Config.Pi);
    }
}

const: Compile-Time Constant

A const must be assigned a literal value at declaration and is baked in at compile time. It is implicitly static.

using System;

class Circle
{
    public const double Pi = 3.14159;

    public static double Area(double r) => Pi * r * r;
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine(Circle.Area(2).ToString("0.00"));
    }
}

const Must Be a Literal

Because it is resolved at compile time, a const can only hold a constant expression: numbers, strings, booleans, or other consts.

using System;

class Limits
{
    public const int MaxRetries = 3;
    public const int Timeout = MaxRetries * 1000;   // const expression OK
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine(Limits.MaxRetries + ", " + Limits.Timeout);
    }
}

readonly: Runtime Constant

A readonly field is set once, either at declaration or in a constructor, and then cannot change. Its value can be computed at runtime.

using System;

class Session
{
    public readonly string Id;

    public Session(string id)
    {
        Id = id;   // allowed: inside constructor
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var s = new Session("abc-123");
        Console.WriteLine("Session: " + s.Id);
    }
}

readonly Can Use Runtime Values

Unlike const, a readonly field can hold a value only known when the program runs, such as a generated id or current time.

using System;

class Order
{
    public readonly Guid OrderId;

    public Order()
    {
        OrderId = Guid.NewGuid();
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var o = new Order();
        Console.WriteLine("Has id: " + (o.OrderId != Guid.Empty));
    }
}

static readonly

Combine static readonly for a class-wide value computed once at runtime. This is the usual replacement for a const when the value is not a literal.

using System;

class AppInfo
{
    public static readonly string[] Roles = { "admin", "user", "guest" };
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Roles: " + Roles());
    }

    static int Roles() => AppInfo.Roles.Length;
}

Why const Can Be Risky Across Assemblies

Because const values are inlined into calling code at compile time, changing a public const in a library requires recompiling all callers. static readonly avoids this.

using System;

class Lib
{
    public const int Version = 2;              // inlined into callers
    public static readonly int Build = 100;     // read at runtime
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine(Lib.Version + "." + Lib.Build);
    }
}

Cannot Reassign Either One

After initialization, neither a const nor a readonly field can be changed. Attempting to do so is a compile error.

using System;

class Demo
{
    public const int A = 10;
    public readonly int B;

    public Demo() { B = 20; }
    // A = 11;  // would not compile
    // B = 21;  // would not compile outside constructor
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var d = new Demo();
        Console.WriteLine(Demo.A + ", " + d.B);
    }
}

Choosing Between Them

Use const for true literals that never change (Pi, MaxInt). Use readonly when the value is computed at runtime or may differ per instance.

using System;

class Physics
{
    public const double Gravity = 9.81;          // universal literal
    public readonly double Mass;                  // per object

    public Physics(double mass) { Mass = mass; }
    public double Weight() => Mass * Gravity;
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var p = new Physics(10);
        Console.WriteLine("Weight: " + p.Weight());
    }
}

readonly Reference Caveat

readonly locks the field, not the object it points to. A readonly list reference cannot be reassigned, but its contents can still change.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Cart
{
    public readonly List<string> Items = new List<string>();
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var c = new Cart();
        c.Items.Add("Pen");   // allowed: mutating the object
        c.Items.Add("Book");
        Console.WriteLine("Items: " + c.Items.Count);
    }
}

Putting It Together

A typical class uses const for fixed literals and readonly for values fixed per instance at construction time.

using System;

class Account
{
    public const decimal MinBalance = 0m;
    public readonly string Owner;

    public Account(string owner)
    {
        Owner = owner;
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var a = new Account("Rin");
        Console.WriteLine(a.Owner + " min=" + Account.MinBalance);
    }
}

Quick Check

Test your understanding of const vs readonly.

Recap

const is a compile-time literal, implicitly static, and inlined into callers. readonly is set once at declaration or in a constructor and can use runtime values. Use const for true literals, static readonly for runtime-computed shared values, and remember readonly locks the reference, not the object.

using System;

class Demo
{
    public const int Max = 100;
    public readonly int Created;
    public Demo(int c) { Created = c; }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var d = new Demo(7);
        Console.WriteLine(Demo.Max + ", " + d.Created);
    }
}

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Constants and readonly Fields” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Constants and readonly Fields” is free to read here on the web, and the C# Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C# Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Constants and readonly Fields”?

Distinguish const from static readonly. You practise C# Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C# Academy?

No prior experience is required. C# Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Constants and readonly Fields” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

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