How to: Use the XML Documentation Features (C# Programming Guide) 

The following sample provides a basic overview of a type that has been documented.

Example

// compile with: /doc:DocFileName.xml 

/// <summary>
/// Class level summary documentation goes here.</summary>
/// <remarks>
/// Longer comments can be associated with a type or member 
/// through the remarks tag</remarks>
public class TestClass
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Store for the name property</summary>
    private string _name = null;

    /// <summary>
    /// The class constructor. </summary>
    public TestClass()
    {
        // TODO: Add Constructor Logic here
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Name property </summary>
    /// <value>
    /// A value tag is used to describe the property value</value>
    public string Name
    {
        get
        {
            if (_name == null)
            {
                throw new System.Exception("Name is null");
            }
            return _name;
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Description for SomeMethod.</summary>
    /// <param name="s"> Parameter description for s goes here</param>
    /// <seealso cref="System.String">
    /// You can use the cref attribute on any tag to reference a type or member 
    /// and the compiler will check that the reference exists. </seealso>
    public void SomeMethod(string s)
    {
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Some other method. </summary>
    /// <returns>
    /// Return results are described through the returns tag.</returns>
    /// <seealso cref="SomeMethod(string)">
    /// Notice the use of the cref attribute to reference a specific method </seealso>
    public int SomeOtherMethod()
    {
        return 0;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The entry point for the application.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="args"> A list of command line arguments</param>
    static int Main(System.String[] args)
    {
        // TODO: Add code to start application here
        return 0;
    }
}

Sample Output

// This .xml file was generated with the previous code sample.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<doc>
    <assembly>
        <name>xmlsample</name>
    </assembly>
    <members>
        <member name="T:SomeClass">
            <summary>
            Class level summary documentation goes here.</summary>
            <remarks>
            Longer comments can be associated with a type or member 
            through the remarks tag</remarks>
        </member>
        <member name="F:SomeClass.m_Name">
            <summary>
            Store for the name property</summary>
        </member>
        <member name="M:SomeClass.#ctor">
            <summary>The class constructor.</summary> 
        </member>
        <member name="M:SomeClass.SomeMethod(System.String)">
            <summary>
            Description for SomeMethod.</summary>
            <param name="s"> Parameter description for s goes here</param>
            <seealso cref="T:System.String">
            You can use the cref attribute on any tag to reference a type or member 
            and the compiler will check that the reference exists. </seealso>
        </member>
        <member name="M:SomeClass.SomeOtherMethod">
            <summary>
            Some other method. </summary>
            <returns>
            Return results are described through the returns tag.</returns>
            <seealso cref="M:SomeClass.SomeMethod(System.String)">
            Notice the use of the cref attribute to reference a specific method </seealso>
        </member>
        <member name="M:SomeClass.Main(System.String[])">
            <summary>
            The entry point for the application.
            </summary>
            <param name="args"> A list of command line arguments</param>
        </member>
        <member name="P:SomeClass.Name">
            <summary>
            Name property </summary>
            <value>
            A value tag is used to describe the property value</value>
        </member>
    </members>
</doc>

Compiling the Code

To compile the example, type the following command line:

csc XMLsample.cs /doc:XMLsample.xml

This will create the XML file XMLsample.xml, which you can view in your browser or by using the TYPE command.

Robust Programming

XML documentation starts with ///. When you create a new project, the wizards put some starter /// lines in for you. The processing of these comments has some restrictions:

• The documentation must be well-formed XML. If the XML is not well-formed, a warning is generated and the documentation file will contain a comment saying that an error was encountered.

• Developers are free to create their own set of tags. There is a recommended set of tags (see the Further Reading section). Some of the recommended tags have special meanings:

  • The <param> tag is used to describe parameters. If used, the compiler will verify that the parameter exists and that all parameters are described in the documentation. If the verification failed, the compiler issues a warning.

  • The cref attribute can be attached to any tag to provide a reference to a code element. The compiler will verify that this code element exists. If the verification failed, the compiler issues a warning. The compiler respects any using statements when looking for a type described in the cref attribute.

  • The <summary> tag is used by IntelliSense inside Visual Studio to display additional information about a type or member.

Note

The XML file does not provide full information about the type and members (for example, it does not contain any type information). To get full information about a type or member, the documentation file must be used in conjunction with reflection on the actual type or member.

See Also

Tasks

XML Documentation Sample

Reference

/doc (Process Documentation Comments) (C# Compiler Options)

Concepts

C# Programming Guide
XML Documentation Comments (C# Programming Guide)
XML Documentation Comments (C# Programming Guide)