passing by reference v.s. passing by value

Question

Hello everyone Supposing I am writng a web services client using managed code. My question is what is the differences between passing by value and passing by reference when we pass parameter to a web services web method call? My confusion is in traditional senses passing by reference means passing only a pointer and modification is impacted on the original object. Passing by value means passing a new copy of original object and modification is not impacted on the original object. -- But for web services no matter pass by value or pass by reference of an object I think it is always made a new copy and not pointer across the network to web services server (since pointer address is only meaningful for local process on local machine)? What is the actual differnces between passing by reference and passing by value when making a web services call? thanks in advance George

George George · Answer

Thanks Ryan! Question answered. regards George

Ryan Alford · Answer

correct. when passing by value the original object does not change when the client gets a response back from the web service. when passing by reference it will change.

George George · Answer

Thanks Ryan! Could I just simply understand the differences between passing value type parameter between passing reference type parameter is -- if pass by reference the modified result is copied back during web services response? If passed by value no copy-back during web services response? regards George

Ryan Alford · Answer

On the webservice side there is no difference. On the client side it will act as it normally would. on the web service side this.... [WebMethod] public void PassingByReference(ref string test) { s = This is passing by reference; } is the same as this... [WebMethod] public void PassingByReference(string test) { s = This is passing by reference; } however if you pass by reference on the return the value will be updated as it normally would when passing by reference. So basically you are not passing a pointer to the web service but .Net updates the pointer on the return as it normally would when passing by reference.