Predefined Value Types and Reference Types ?

In this example, a reference to where the string literal, "Programming World", is stored in the 'intern pool' is assigned to the string variable str1.

A copy of this reference is then assigned to the variable str2 - so at that juncture they both refer to the same string literal.

A reference to where the string literal, "Hello World", is stored in the 'intern pool' is then assigned to the string variable str1, overwriting the existing reference.

This doesn't affect what str2 refers to and so, at that juncture, the variables point to different string literals which is then reflected in what gets printed out.

Although strings, which are the only reference type which supports literals, have some strange properties, the above is in fact normal behavior for references types.

If instead of string, you'd have used a simple custom class, the output would have been similar:

The string Type


string str1 = "Programming World";
string str2 = str1;
str1 = "Hello World";
Console.WriteLine("str1 : " + str1);
Console.WriteLine("str2 : " + str2);

Output:

str1 : Programming World
str2 : Hello World


Guys, Comment on the output and difference from the usual behavior of reference types.