Memory usage difference between workMethods(ref myArray) vs workMethods(myArray) ?

Question

4.00/5 (1 vote)

See more:

What is Memory usage difference between  workMethods(ref myArray)  vs  workMethods(myArray) ?

What is difference between this two method calls regarding memory usage ??

C#

int[] myArray = new myArray[2000];

for(int i=0; i < myArray.Length; i++)
{
 myArray[i] = i;
}

then Pass this array to 2 methods which take int type array as parameter for process

C#

workMethods(ref myArray);

and this method

C#

workMethods(myArray);

Posted 15-Jun-14 21:33pm

DoingWork

Updated 15-Jun-14 21:35pm

v3

Add a Solution

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

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

OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-15T22:19:00

Nothing.

The array is a reverence type - they always are - so all that is every passed into the method is a reference - which is pretty small (4 or 8 bytes depending on OS size)

The only difference when using the ref keyword is whether the variable holding the reference is passed through, or a copy of it. In the first case, any changes to the variable will be reflected in the world outside the method, without the ref they won't.
In both cases, any changes to the values in the array will affect the one and only copy of the actual data in existence.