.NET Interview Question: Value Type vs Reference Type

In .NET, the main difference between a value type and a reference type lies in how they are stored in memory and treated by the runtime environment.

Value Type:

A value type directly stores its data value in the memory where the variable is allocated. Examples of value types in .NET include integers, floats, structs, and enums.

Key Points about Value Types:

• Stored on the stack or inline within the containing type.
• Memory allocation occurs at compile time.
• Copying a value type variable creates a new copy of the data.

Reference Type:

A reference type stores a reference to the memory location where the actual data is stored. Examples of reference types in .NET include classes, interfaces, arrays, and strings.

Key Points about Reference Types:

• Stored on the managed heap.
• Memory allocation occurs at runtime.
• Copying a reference type variable only creates a new reference, not a new copy of the data.

Understanding the difference between value types and reference types is crucial for efficient memory management and avoiding common pitfalls in .NET development.