C# 14 Features: Write Cleaner Code and Boost Performance

C# 14 arrived with .NET 10, introducing a suite of powerful features designed to make your code cleaner, more expressive, and performant. Are you ready to dive into the key improvements and discover how they can transform your development workflow? Keep reading to explore practical C# 14 examples that you can implement immediately.

1. Enhanced Extension Members: More Than Just Extension Methods

C# 14 elevates extension methods by allowing you to define properties and indexers within extension blocks. This goes beyond simply adding methods to existing types; you can now encapsulate reusable logic more effectively without altering the original type's definition, making your code more maintainable and readable.

• Benefit: Extend existing types with properties and indexers.
• Advantage: Keep your code clean and avoid modifying original types.

Here's an example of C# 14's extension members in action:

public static class EnumerableExtensions 
{ 
    extension <T>( IEnumerable <T> source) 
    { 
        public bool IsEmpty => !source.Any(); 
        public T this[int index] => source.Skip(index).First(); 
    } 
}

2. Streamlined Null-Conditional Assignment with C# 14

The ??= operator receives an upgrade in C# 14, now compatible with more complex null-conditional expressions. Forget about verbose if statements; this feature offers a concise and elegant way to assign values only when something is null, resulting in cleaner and more readable code.

myObject?.Property ??= defaultValue;

3. Effortless Open Generic Type Names with nameof

C# 14 allows you to retrieve the name of an open generic type using nameof. This seemingly small feature is invaluable for logging scenarios, code generation tasks, or validation processes, saving you time and preventing potential errors.

nameof(List<>); // Returns "List"

4. Boosting Memory Operations with Span<T> Enhancements

C# 14 expands implicit conversions between Span<T>, ReadOnlySpan<T>, and arrays (T[]). This improvement makes high-performance memory operations safer and more accessible, enabling you to optimize your code for speed and efficiency without sacrificing security.

5. Flexible Lambda Expressions with Modifiers

Lambdas now support modifiers like ref, out, in, or scoped without requiring explicit parameter types. This addition simplifies working with APIs that involve references or output parameters, making your code more concise and readable.

TryParse<int> parse = (text, out result) => int.TryParse(text, out result);

6. Direct Access to Auto-Property Backing Fields

C# 14 introduces a subtle yet useful feature: direct access to the backing field of an auto-implemented property. This allows you to add validation logic directly through the field keyword without manually declaring a private backing field.

public string Message 
{ 
    get; 
    set => field = value ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(value)); 
}

7. Expanding Partial Members: Constructors and Events

The concept of partial members now extends to constructors and events in C# 14. This enhancement is particularly beneficial in code generation scenarios or when working with partially generated classes, providing greater flexibility and control over your codebase. You can create amazing things with the latest C# features.