13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#

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The purpose of writing this article is simple; to provide a simple and fresh demonstration of the basic
differences between these three frequently used and confusing keywords in C# with some reference
example. This article is purely for the beginner in C#.
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In this article I'll explain how virtual, override and new keywords vary by taking some set of examples
respectively ﴾some sort of functionality﴿. 87,746 people like C# Corner.
Finally there will be some key points to remember about all these 3 keywords.

Introduction

This introductory part will provide a brief introduction of all these 3 keywords. So here they are.

Virtual Keyword

The Virtual keyword is used for generating a virtual path for its derived classes on implementing
method overriding. The Virtual keyword is used within a set with an override keyword. It is used as:

01.  // Base Class  
02.  class A  
03.  {  
04.      public virtual void show()  
05.      {  
06.          Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
07.          Console.ReadLine();  
08.      }  
09.  }  

 
Override Keyword

The Override keyword is used in the derived class of the base class in order to override the base class
method. The Override keyword is used with the virtual keyword, as in:

01.  // Base Class  
02.  class A  
03.  {  
04.      public virtual void show()  
05.      {  
06.          Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
07.          Console.ReadLine();  
08.      }  
09.  }  
10.    
11.  // Derived Class  
12.  class B : A  
13.  {  
14.      public override void show()  
15.      {  
16.          Console.WriteLine("Hello: Derived Class!");  

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13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#
17.          Console.ReadLine();  
18.      }  
19.  }  

 
New Keyword

The New keyword is also used for polymorphism but in the case of method overriding. So what does
overriding means? In simple words we can say that we are changing what the base class does for the
derived class.

It is implemented as:

01.  class A  
02.  {  
03.      public void show()  
04.      {  
05.          Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
06.          Console.ReadLine();  
07.      }  
08.  }  
09.    
10.  class B : A  
11.  {  
12.      public new void show()  
13.      {  
14.          Console.WriteLine("Hello: Derived Class!");  
15.          Console.ReadLine();  
16.      }  
17.  }   

Demo Example

Sample Implementation

Here's a simple implementation in C# without using any keywords. Do you think it will run fine, or
will it show a runtime or compile‐time errors?  Let's see:

01.  using System;  
02.  using System.Collections.Generic;  
03.  using System.Linq;  
04.  using System.Text;  
05.    
06.  namespace Generics  
07.  {  
08.      class A  
09.      {  
10.          public void show()  
11.          {  
12.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
13.              Console.ReadLine();  
14.          }  
15.      }  
16.    
17.      class B : A  
18.      {  
19.          public void show()  
20.          {  
21.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Derived Class!");  
22.              Console.ReadLine();  
23.          }  
24.      }  
25.    
26.      class Polymorphism  
27.      {  
28.          public static void Main()  
29.          {  
30.              A a1 = new A();  
31.              a1.show();  
32.              B b1 = new B();  
33.              b1.show();   
34.              A a2 = new B();  
35.              a2.show();  
36.          }  
37.      }  
38.  }  

Output Window

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13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#

It is showing some sort of output. That means there is neither a runtime nor a compile‐time error.
But it will definitely show a warning in Visual Studio. So do you want to know what it is and how to
remove it?

Keep reading and you will go through that.

Warning Message

Here's the warning message that you will get:

Solution

The solution of this problem is already in the warning. Just read it carefully and you will get that. Yes
you got that right, for removing that warning we need to use the new keyword.

In the next sample demo example is showing you a simple demo snippet and implementation of the
new keyword. ﴾I hope now you will be getting why we are using the new keyword in here.﴿ 

New keyword | Method Overhiding

Here's a simple snippet of method overriding. So just go through it and guess the output:

01.  using System;  
02.  using System.Collections.Generic;  
03.  using System.Linq;  
04.  using System.Text;  
05.    
06.  namespace Generics  
07.  {  
08.      class A  
09.      {  
10.          public void show()  
11.          {  
12.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
13.              Console.ReadLine();  
14.          }  
15.      }  
16.    
17.      class B : A  
18.      {  
19.          public new void show()  
20.          {  
21.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Derived Class!");  
22.              Console.ReadLine();  
23.          }  
24.      }  
25.    
26.      class Polymorphism  
27.      {  
28.          public static void Main()  
29.          {  
30.              A a1 = new A();  
31.              a1.show();  
32.              B b1 = new B();  
33.              b1.show();   
34.              A a2 = new B();  
35.              a2.show();  
36.          }  
37.      }  
38.  }  

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13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#

Output Window

Explanation

The procedure goes something like that:

Virtual and Override Keywords | Method Overriding

This is a simple example of method overriding. Just go through it and guess the output again and
also try to differentiate between the previous snippet and this snippet.

01.  using System;  
02.  using System.Collections.Generic;  
03.  using System.Linq;  
04.  using System.Text;  
05.    
06.  namespace Generics  
07.  {  
08.      class A  
09.      {  
10.          public virtual void show()  
11.          {  
12.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
13.              Console.ReadLine();  
14.          }  
15.      }  
16.    
17.      class B : A  
18.      {  
19.          public override void show()  
20.          {  
21.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Derived Class!");  
22.              Console.ReadLine();  
23.          }  
24.      }  
25.        
26.      class Polymorphism  
27.      {  
28.          public static void Main()  
29.          {  
30.              A a1 = new A();  
31.              a1.show();  
32.              B b1 = new B();  
33.              b1.show();  
34.              A a2 = new B();  
35.              a2.show();  
36.          }  
37.      }  
38.  }  

Output Window

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13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#

Explanation

The flow goes something like that:

 
Overriding + Hiding | Together

This snippet shows how both of these methods can work together in a same snippet. So just go
through this and guess the output.

01.  using System;  
02.  using System.Collections.Generic;  
03.  using System.Linq;  
04.  using System.Text;  
05.    
06.  namespace Generics  
07.  {  
08.      class A  
09.      {  
10.          public virtual void show()  
11.          {  
12.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Base Class!");  
13.              Console.ReadLine();  
14.          }  
15.      }  
16.        
17.      class B : A  
18.      {  
19.          public override void show()  
20.          {  
21.              Console.WriteLine("Hello: Derived Class!");  
22.              Console.ReadLine();  
23.          }  
24.      }  
25.    
26.      class C : B  
27.      {  
28.          public new void show()  
29.          {  
30.              Console.WriteLine("Am Here!");  
31.              Console.ReadLine();  
32.          }  
33.      }  
34.    
35.      class Polymorphism  
36.      {  
37.          public static void Main()  
38.          {  
39.              A a1 = new A();  
40.              a1.show();  
41.              B b1 = new B();  
42.              b1.show();  
43.              C c1 = new C();  
44.              c1.show();  
45.              A a2 = new B();  
46.              a2.show();  
47.              A a3 = new C();  
48.              a3.show();  

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13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#
49.              B b3 = new C();  
50.              b3.show();  
51.          }  
52.      }  
53.  }  

Output Window

Explanation

The flow goes something like that:

Key Points

I am providing some key points about these keywords by taking a reference of method overloading and
overriding concepts, since these keywords are used in these mechanisms.

Virtual and Override

Used in polymorphism implementation

Includes same method name and same params
Used in method overriding
It is also called runtime polymorphism
Causes late binding

New

It is also used in polymorphism concept

Includes the same method name and different params
Used in method overriding
It is compile‐time polymorphism
Causes early binding

Conclusion

So did you like it, I hope you so!

Well I tried to provide just a brief sketch of these keywords, that are very necessary for a beginner in C# as
well as in OOP. If you have a good understaind of OOP then you can take any object‐oriented language in
your pocket.

So just go through OOP first and then C# and if you are facing any problem then feel free to ping or
message me.

Happy coding, Cheers!

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13/04/2015 Virtual vs Override vs New Keywords in C#

Abhishek Jaiswal
A Geek!

Personal Blog: http://geeksangle.ghost.io/

Rank 1m Gold 2
42 Readers Member Times

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COMMENTS 5 of 5

good explanation
Gyan Parkash Sep 09, 2014
634 1 0 0 0 Post Reply

Good work Abhishek.

Dinesh Beniwal Sep 09, 2014
4 12.8k 4.2m 0 0 Post Reply

nice article
Manju lata Yadav Sep 09, 2014
392 268 62.9k 0 0 Post Reply

Good One....
Divya Sharma Sep 09, 2014
325 389 130.5k 0 0 Post Reply

Thank u guys! :)
Abhishek Jaiswal Sep 09, 2014
42 3.6k 1m 0 0 Post Reply

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