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Guest User

14y1.7kC#

Hi

I require some elaboration as to the purpose and meaning of the MSDN article titled "Do not pass types by reference"

URL http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms182146(v=vs.80).aspx

Regards

Steven

2 Replies

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Vulpes14y ago
Accepted answer
It's one of FxCop's more ridiculous rules for library writers.

It's basically saying that you shouldn't use 'ref' parameters because there's a good chance your users won't understand how they work.

Needless to say, I don't agree with this advice. 'ref' parameters are a basic part of the language which are used in the .NET Framework itself. It's therefore perfectly reasonable to assume your users will know how they work.
Akkiraju Ivaturi14y ago
We need not follow everything what FxCop says. When you use code analyzer for analyzing your code, fxcop says that do not use ref parameters and instead use normal parameters. But, if you have come from pure development background, ref is a basic bone of sending parameters by reference and in some of the projects you cannot avoid it. It is good if you can avoid ref to be in consistent with Microsoft, but you need not be.