Fix the 'an object reference is required for non-static field, method, or property'

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I'm really new to coding c# and have recently been trying to learn how to do methods, but every time I've tried making a method in C# in visual studio it comes up with the same error: an object reference is required for non-static field, method, or property.

Here is an example of the code I used to try (and fail) to create a method (As I stated, this is in C# in Visual Studio):

C#

using System;

namespace metTestNov
{
    class Program
    {

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            int x = 2;
            int xReturnTest = Program.returnNum(x);
        }
        public int returnNum (int x)
        {
            return x;
        }

    }
}

What I have tried:

I've tried changing 'public' to 'private', I've tried putting the method before the 'main' method.

Posted 5-Nov-21 7:40am

Oliver D 2021

Updated 5-Nov-21 7:59am

Add a Solution

Comments

[no name] 5-Nov-21 13:57pm

In the present context, returnNum must be defined as "static". The "Main" entry point is a static method; it has no "object instance" associated with it; which you would need to call retrunNum otherwise (an object instance of "Program").

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)

Richard MacCutchan · Answer 1 · 2021-11-05T07:59:00

You have declared returnNum as a non-static method, but you are trying to call it as if it is static. So change your code in one of the following ways:

C#

public static int returnNum (int x) // make it static

C#

Program prog = new Program(); // create an instance of the Program class
int xReturnTest = prog.returnNum(x); // call returnNum on the instance object

But what you should really do is get a good tutorial on C# and learn it in a structured fashion. .NET Book Zero by Charles Petzold[^] is an excellent starter.