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#275 string interpolation tutorial for C# #1317

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124 changes: 124 additions & 0 deletions docs/csharp/tutorials/string-interpolation.md
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---
title: String Interpolation | C#
description: Learn how string interpolation works in C# 6
keywords: .NET, .NET Core, C#, string
author: mgroves
manager: BillWagner
ms.date: 12/09/2016
ms.topic: article
ms.prod: .net-core
ms.technology: .net-core-technologies
ms.devlang: csharp
ms.assetid: f8806f6b-3ac7-4ee6-9b3e-c524d5301ae9
---

# String Interpolation in C#

String Interpolation is the way that placeholders in a string are replaced by the value of a string variable. Before C# 6, the way to do this is with `System.String.Format`. This works okay, but since it uses numbered placeholders, it can be harder to read and more verbose.

Other programming languages have had string interpolation built into the language for a while. For instance, in PHP:

```PHP
$name = "Jonas";
echo "My name is $name.";
// This will output "My name is Jonas."
```

In C# 6, we finally have that style of string interpolation. You can use a `$` before a string to indicate that it should substitute variables/expressions for their values.

## Prerequisites
You’ll need to setup your machine to run .NET core. You can find the
installation instructions on the [.NET Core](https://www.microsoft.com/net/core)
page.
You can run this application on Windows, Ubuntu Linux, macOS or in a Docker container.
You’ll need to install your favorite code editor. The descriptions below
use [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) which is an open
source, cross platform editor. However, you can use whatever tools you are
comfortable with.

## Create the Application

Now that you've installed all the tools, create a new .NET Core
application. To use the command line generator, execute the following command in your favorite shell:

`dotnet new`

This command will create a barebones .NET core project with `project.json` and `Program.cs` files. You will need to execute `dotnet restore` to restore the dependencies needed to compile this project.

To execute the program, use `dotnet run`. You should see "Hello, World" output to the console.

## Intro to String Interpolation

With `System.String.Format`, you would specify "placeholders" in a string that would be replaced by the parameters following the string. For instance:

[!code-csharp[String.Format example](../../../samples/snippets/csharp/new-in-6/string-interpolation.cs#StringFormatExample)]

That will output "My name is Matt Groves".

In C# 6, Instead of using String.Format, you can tell C# that a string is interpolated by prepending it with the `$` symbol, and then using the variables directly in the string. For instance:

[!code-csharp[Interpolation example](../../../samples/snippets/csharp/new-in-6/string-interpolation.cs#InterpolationExample)]

You don't have to use just variables. You can use any expression within the brackets. For instance:

[!code-csharp[Interpolation expression example](../../../samples/snippets/csharp/new-in-6/string-interpolation.cs#InterpolationExpressionExample)]

Which would output:

```
This is line number 1
This is line number 2
This is line number 3
This is line number 4
This is line number 5
```

## How string interpolation works

Behind the scenes, this string interpolation syntax gets translated into String.Format by the compiler. So, you can do the [same type of stuff you've done before with String.Format](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dwhawy9k(v=vs.110).aspx).

For instance, you can add padding and numeric formatting:
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Let's add a link to the format strings doc https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dwhawy9k(v=vs.110).aspx here to explain how that works.

(We'll catch and update those links when that section in MSDN is migrated).


[!code-csharp[Interpolation formatting example](../../../samples/snippets/csharp/new-in-6/string-interpolation.cs#InterpolationFormattingExample)]

The above would output something like:

```
998 5,177.67
999 6,719.30
1000 9,910.61
1001 529.34
1002 1,349.86
1003 2,660.82
1004 6,227.77
```

If a variable name is not found, then a compile time error will be generated.

For instance:

```cs
var animal = "fox";
var localizeMe = $"The {adj} brown {animal} jumped over the lazy {otheranimal}";
var adj = "quick";
Console.WriteLine(localizeMe);
```

If you compile this, you'll get errors:

* `Cannot use local variable 'adj' before it is declared` - the `adj` variable wasn't declared until *after* the interpolated string.
* `The name 'otheranimal' does not exist in the current context` - a variable called `otheranimal` was never even declared

## Localization and Internationalization

An interpolated string supports `IFormattable` and `FormattableString`, which can be useful for internationalization.

By default, an interpolated string uses the current culture. To use a different culture, you could cast it as `IFormattable`

For instance:

[!code-csharp[Interpolation internationalization example](../../../samples/snippets/csharp/new-in-6/string-interpolation.cs#InterpolationInternationalizationExample)]

## Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to use string interpolation features of C# 6. It's basically a more concise way of writing simple `String.Format` statements, with some caveats for more advanced uses of it.
62 changes: 62 additions & 0 deletions samples/snippets/csharp/new-in-6/string-interpolation.cs
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using System;
using System.Globalization;

namespace StringInterpolationTutorial
{
public class Examples
{
public void StringFormatExample()
{
// <StringFormatExample>
var firstName = "Matt";
var lastName = "Groves";
var str = String.Format("My name is {0} {1}", firstName, lastName);
Console.WriteLine(str);
// </StringFormatExample>
}

public void InterpolationExample()
{
// <InterpolationExample>
var firstName = "Matt";
var lastName = "Groves";
var str = $"My name is {firstName} {lastName}";
Console.WriteLine(str);
// </InterpolationExample>
}

public void InterpolationExpressionExample()
{
// <InterpolationExpressionExample>
for(var i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
Console.WriteLine($"This is line number {i + 1}");
}
// </InterpolationExpressionExample>
}

public void InterpolationFormattingExample()
{
// <InterpolationFormattingExample>
var rand = new Random();
for(var i = 998; i < 1005; i++)
{
var randomDecimal = rand.NextDouble() * 10000;
Console.WriteLine($"{i, -10} {randomDecimal, 6:N2}");
}
// </InterpolationFormattingExample>
}

public void InterpolationInternationalizationExample()
{
// <InterpolationInternationalizationExample>
var birthday = new DateTime(1980, 1, 29);
Console.WriteLine($"My birthday is {birthday}");
// This outputs "My birthday is 1/29/1980 12:00:00 AM"

var birthdayFormattable = (IFormattable)$"My birthday is {birthday}";
Console.WriteLine(birthdayFormattable.ToString(null, new CultureInfo("fr-FR")));
// This outputs "My birthday is 29/01/1980 00:00:00"
// </InterpolationInternationalizationExample>
}
}
}