Syntax

Question

Hi

Given the following statement:-

new WebClient().DownloadString("http://www.foo.com");

I require help in understand the syntax's

WebClient()

// This is a class but has a parenthesis as if it were a method.

.DownloadString("http://www.foo.com");

// This method is not Static OR an Extension method but is accessed with the dot notation as if it were Static or an Extension.

Regards

Steven

Vulpes · Answer

That's right Steven. The line is equivalent to these two lines: WebClient wc = new WebClient(); wc.DownloadString(http://www.foo.com); However if you don't need to refer to the 'wc' variable elsewhere you can avoid declaring it at all by combining these two lines into one.

S · Answer

Brilliant thank-you!

S · Answer

Ah I see so even though there is no instance variable being used the WebClient class can still access its own instance member(s).

Vulpes · Answer

The important thing to note here is that WebClient() is preceded by 'new'. So that line is creating a new WebClient object (using its parameterless constructor) and then calling its instance method DownloadString.