Literals in C# with Clear Examples and Explanation

Introduction: What Are Literals in C#?

In C#, literals are fixed values written directly into your code. They represent constant values without requiring variables, calculations, or further evaluation. Understanding how literals work is essential for writing clear, efficient, and bug-free C# programs.

In this guide, we’ll explore different types of literals with practical examples.

1. Integer Literals

Integer literals are used to represent whole numbers without decimal points. C# allows integers to be specified in multiple formats:

Decimal (base 10)
Hexadecimal (base 16)
Octal (base 8) (note: octal notation is not directly supported in C#, but older examples show it)
Binary (base 2)

Examples:

int decimalValue = 42;        // Decimal literal
int hexadecimalValue = 0x2A;  // Hexadecimal literal (prefix 0x)
int binaryValue = 0b101010;   // Binary literal (prefix 0b)

Note: C# officially does not support octal literals (052) like some other languages. Always use decimal, hex, or binary in C#.

2. Floating-Point Literals

Floating-point literals represent real numbers with decimal points and can be written in:

Decimal notation
Scientific notation

Examples:

double decimalValue = 3.14;      // Decimal notation
double scientificValue = 1.23e4; // Scientific notation (1.23 × 10⁴)

3. Character Literals

Character literals are single characters enclosed in single quotes. They can also include escape sequences for special characters.

Examples:

char ch = 'A';
char newLine = '\n'; // Newline character

Common escape sequences include:

\n for newline
\t for tab
\\ for backslash
\' for single quote
\" for double quote

4. String Literals

String literals represent sequences of characters enclosed in double quotes. They can include escaped characters for formatting.

Examples:

string message = "Hello, World!";
string filePath = "C:\\temp\\file.txt"; // Backslash must be escaped

In normal string literals, special characters like backslashes must be escaped.

5. Boolean Literals

Boolean literals represent true or false values.

Examples:

bool isTrue = true;
bool isFalse = false;

Boolean values are fundamental for controlling flow and making decisions in your code.

6. Null Literal

The null literal represents a null reference, meaning no object or value is assigned.

Example:

string name = null;

Using null is important when you want to indicate the absence of a value explicitly.

7. Verbatim String Literals

A verbatim string literal starts with an @ symbol and treats backslashes and special characters as regular characters — no escaping needed.

Example:

string filePath = @"C:\temp\file.txt";

Verbatim strings are perfect for file paths, regular expressions, and multi-line text.

Why Are Literals Important in C#?

Literals provide fixed values that make code easy to read, understand, and maintain. By using appropriate literals:

You initialize variables properly
You represent constant data clearly
You reduce bugs caused by hidden conversions or misinterpretations

Whether working with numbers, text, dates, or special characters, understanding literals helps you write more expressive and robust C# programs.

Mastering Literals in C#

Literals are a simple yet powerful concept in C#. By mastering the different types of literals — integers, floating-point numbers, characters, strings, booleans, null values, and verbatim strings — you’ll be better equipped to write clean and effective code.

Always choose the right literal format depending on the situation to improve your code’s readability and maintainability.

Literals in C# with Clear Examples and Explanation