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C# Academy · Lesson

Value Types vs Reference Types

See how each is stored and copied.

Value Types vs Reference Types is a free C# Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 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 Families of Types

C# types split into value types (int, double, bool, structs) and reference types (classes, strings, arrays). They differ in how they are stored and copied.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int valueType = 5;          // value type
        int[] referenceType = { 1, 2, 3 };  // reference type
        Console.WriteLine(valueType + ", length " + referenceType.Length);
    }
}

Value Types Hold the Data

A value-type variable directly contains its data. Typically these live on the stack or inline within their containing object.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int a = 10;
        double b = 3.14;
        bool c = true;
        Console.WriteLine(a + ", " + b + ", " + c);
    }
}

Reference Types Hold an Address

A reference-type variable holds a reference (address) to data stored on the heap. The variable and the object are separate.

using System;

class Box { public int Value; }

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Box b = new Box();   // b refers to a heap object
        b.Value = 42;
        Console.WriteLine(b.Value);
    }
}

Copy Semantics: Value Types

Assigning a value type copies the data. Changing the copy never affects the original.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int a = 1;
        int b = a;   // copy
        b = 99;
        Console.WriteLine("a=" + a + ", b=" + b);
    }
}

Copy Semantics: Reference Types

Assigning a reference type copies the reference, not the object. Both variables then point to the same object.

using System;

class Box { public int Value; }

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Box a = new Box { Value = 1 };
        Box b = a;   // same object
        b.Value = 99;
        Console.WriteLine("a.Value=" + a.Value + ", b.Value=" + b.Value);
    }
}

Structs Are Value Types

A struct you define is a value type, so it copies on assignment just like int.

using System;

struct Point { public int X, Y; }

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Point p1 = new Point { X = 1, Y = 2 };
        Point p2 = p1;   // full copy
        p2.X = 99;
        Console.WriteLine("p1.X=" + p1.X + ", p2.X=" + p2.X);
    }
}

Passing to Methods

By default, value types are passed by copy and reference types pass a copy of the reference. So a method can change a class object the caller sees, but not a plain int.

using System;

class Counter { public int N; }

class Program
{
    static void BumpInt(int x) { x++; }
    static void BumpObj(Counter c) { c.N++; }

    static void Main()
    {
        int i = 0;
        BumpInt(i);
        var c = new Counter();
        BumpObj(c);
        Console.WriteLine("i=" + i + ", c.N=" + c.N);
    }
}

null and Reference Types

Only reference types can be null (the absence of an object). Value types always hold a value unless declared nullable with ?.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string text = null;        // reference type can be null
        int? maybe = null;          // nullable value type
        Console.WriteLine((text == null) + ", " + (maybe == null));
    }
}

Equality Differences

For value types, == compares the data. For reference types, == usually compares identity (same object), unless overridden.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int a = 5, b = 5;
        Console.WriteLine("ints: " + (a == b));   // True - same value

        object o1 = new object();
        object o2 = new object();
        Console.WriteLine("objects: " + (o1 == o2));   // False - different identity
    }
}

Default Values

Value types have a zero-like default (0, false); reference types default to null.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int defaultInt = default;
        bool defaultBool = default;
        string defaultString = default;
        Console.WriteLine(defaultInt + ", " + defaultBool + ", null? " + (defaultString == null));
    }
}

Putting It Together

Knowing whether a type is value or reference predicts copy behavior, nullability, and how methods can mutate it. This shapes correct, bug-free code.

using System;

struct Money { public decimal Amount; }
class Wallet { public decimal Amount; }

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Money m1 = new Money { Amount = 10 };
        Money m2 = m1; m2.Amount = 99;

        Wallet w1 = new Wallet { Amount = 10 };
        Wallet w2 = w1; w2.Amount = 99;

        Console.WriteLine("Money copy: " + m1.Amount + " (independent)");
        Console.WriteLine("Wallet ref: " + w1.Amount + " (shared)");
    }
}

Quick Check

Test your understanding of value vs reference types.

Recap

Value types (int, double, bool, structs) store data directly and copy on assignment; reference types (classes, strings, arrays) store a reference to a heap object and copy the reference. Only reference types are nullable by default, and assignment behavior plus equality differ between the two families.

using System;

struct V { public int N; }
class R { public int N; }

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        V v1 = new V { N = 1 }; V v2 = v1; v2.N = 9;
        R r1 = new R { N = 1 }; R r2 = r1; r2.N = 9;
        Console.WriteLine(v1.N + " vs " + r1.N);
    }
}

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Value Types vs Reference Types” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Value Types vs Reference Types” 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 “Value Types vs Reference Types”?

See how each is stored and copied. 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 1 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Value Types vs Reference Types” 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.

Can I write and run code in this C# Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C# Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Value Types vs Reference Types
  2. Boxing and Unboxing
  3. Implicit and Explicit Conversions
  4. The Convert Class and Parsing
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