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Difference between Object, Dynamic and Var

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30 Jul 2011CPOL2 min read 85.7K   21   17
A list of differences between the three types of the variables Object, Var and Dynamic.

In this post, I am going to write the points about the three types of the variable, Object, Var and Dynamic. Most developers are not able to get what is the difference between these three kinds of variables.

ObjectDynamicVar
Able to store any kind of value, because object is the base class of all types in .NET Framework.Able to store any type of the variable, similar to old VB language variable.Able to store any type of value but it is required to initialize at the time of declaration.

Compiler has little information about the type.

Compiler doesn't have any information about this type of variable.

It's compiler safe, i.e., compiler has all information about the stored value, so that it doesn't cause any issue at run-time.

Object type can be passed as function argument and function also can return object type.Dynamic type can be passed as function argument and function also can return object type.Var type cannot be passed as function argument and function cannot return object type. This type of variable can work in the scope where it is defined.

Require to cast object variable to original type before using it. So this assigning to object type and converting to original type called as Boxing and Un-Boxing for value type and for the reference type its casting of types. It's actually increasing the overhead when we do this both operation.

Allows to perform operation of given type once it gets cast any user defined or primitive data type.

Casting is not required but you need to know the property and methods related to stored type.No need to cast because compiler has all information to perform operation.
Cause the problem at run time if the stored value is not get converted to underlying data type.

Cause problem if the wrong method or property accessed because all the information about stored value gets resolved only at run time.

Doesn't cause problem because compiler has all information about stored value.
Useful when it doesn't have more information about the data type.Useful when coding using reflection or dynamic language support or with the COM objects, because we require to write less amount of code.Useful when getting result out of the linq queries. In 3.5 framework, it was introduced to support linq feature.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Software Developer (Senior)
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Microsoft C# MVP (12-13)



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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralMy vote of 3 Pin
khurram ali lashari3-Mar-14 15:21
professionalkhurram ali lashari3-Mar-14 15:21 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Pranay Rana6-Mar-14 0:37
professionalPranay Rana6-Mar-14 0:37 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
khurram ali lashari6-Mar-14 6:09
professionalkhurram ali lashari6-Mar-14 6:09 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Pratik Bhuva31-Dec-13 3:17
professionalPratik Bhuva31-Dec-13 3:17 
QuestionNice one! check this blog also for more info about Var and Dynamic senthilvijayalakshmi.blogspot.in/2013/03/difference-between-var-and-dynamic.html Pin
senthilstayss7-Mar-13 17:55
senthilstayss7-Mar-13 17:55 
QuestionNot an article Pin
bbirajdar16-Sep-12 23:20
bbirajdar16-Sep-12 23:20 
GeneralMy vote of 3 Pin
GATzilla3-Aug-11 1:13
GATzilla3-Aug-11 1:13 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Pranay Rana3-Aug-11 18:40
professionalPranay Rana3-Aug-11 18:40 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
GATzilla21-Nov-11 16:25
GATzilla21-Nov-11 16:25 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
sachin10d1-Aug-11 19:36
sachin10d1-Aug-11 19:36 
GeneralRe: My vote of 4 Pin
Pranay Rana3-Aug-11 18:40
professionalPranay Rana3-Aug-11 18:40 
QuestionAbout var Pin
Jaime Olivares31-Jul-11 5:19
Jaime Olivares31-Jul-11 5:19 
Bug[My vote of 1] Too many technical errors Pin
GATzilla29-Jul-11 23:35
GATzilla29-Jul-11 23:35 
GeneralRe: [My vote of 1] Too many technical errors [modified] Pin
Pranay Rana30-Jul-11 3:20
professionalPranay Rana30-Jul-11 3:20 
BugRe: [My vote of 1] Too many technical errors Pin
GATzilla30-Jul-11 8:48
GATzilla30-Jul-11 8:48 
QuestionGood one!!!! Pin
Anil_Saran29-Jul-11 20:24
Anil_Saran29-Jul-11 20:24 
AnswerRe: Good one!!!! Pin
Pranay Rana29-Jul-11 23:11
professionalPranay Rana29-Jul-11 23:11 

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