Table of Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Notes DownloadECMA-334 C# Language Specification


18 Structs
18.3 Class and struct differences
18.3.5 Boxing and unboxing
Paragraph 11 A value of a class type can be converted to type object or to an interface type that is implemented by the class simply by treating the reference as another type at compile-time. 2 Likewise, a value of type object or a value of an interface type can be converted back to a class type without changing the reference (but of course a run-time type check is required in this case).
Paragraph 21 Since structs are not reference types, these operations are implemented differently for struct types. 2 When a value of a struct type is converted to type object or to an interface type that is implemented by the struct, a boxing operation takes place. 3 Likewise, when a value of type object or a value of an interface type is converted back to a struct type, an unboxing operation takes place. 4 A key difference from the same operations on class types is that boxing and unboxing copies the struct value either into or out of the boxed instance. [Note: Thus, following a boxing or unboxing operation, changes made to the unboxed struct are not reflected in the boxed struct. end note]
Paragraph 31 For further details on boxing and unboxing, see §11.3. |
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