Common Type System
The common type system defines how types are declared, used, and managed in the runtime, and is also an important part of the runtime's support for cross-language integration. The common type system performs the following functions:
Establishes a framework that helps enable cross-language integration, type safety, and high performance code execution.
Provides an object-oriented model that supports the complete implementation of many programming languages.
Defines rules that languages must follow, which helps ensure that objects written in different languages can interact with each other.
In This Section
- Common Type System Overview
Describes concepts and defines terms relating to the common type system.
- Type Definitions
Describes user-defined types.
- Type Members
Describes events, fields, nested types, methods, and properties, and concepts such as member overloading, overriding, and inheritance.
- Value Types in the Common Type System
Describes built-in and user-defined value types.
- Classes in the Common Type System
Describes the characteristics of common language runtime classes.
- Delegates in the Common Type System
Describes the delegate object, which is the managed alternative to unmanaged function pointers.
- Arrays in the Common Type System
Describes common language runtime array types.
- Interfaces in the Common Type System
Describes characteristics of interfaces and the restrictions on interfaces imposed by the common language runtime.
- Pointers in the Common Type System
Describes managed pointers, unmanaged pointers, and unmanaged function pointers.
Related Sections
- .NET Framework Class Library Reference
Provides a reference to the classes, interfaces, and value types included in the Microsoft .NET Framework SDK.
- Common Language Runtime
Describes the run-time environment that manages the execution of code and provides application development services.