Class constructors

[Mujtaba Syed]

Does that runtime guarantee that my static constructor will complete
execution before I call any other static method of that class?

If not, what is the most efficient way of implementing this.

Thanks,
Mujtaba.

 

[Mark Broadbent]

Yes the static constructor will be called only once upon the first call to
the class.

See code...
using System;

namespace StaticConstructor

{

/// <summary>

/// Summary description for Class1.

/// </summary>

class Class1

{

/// <summary>

/// The main entry point for the application.

/// </summary>

[STAThread]

static void Main(string[] args)

{

MyClass a = new MyClass();

a.ShowMessage();

MyClass b = new MyClass();

b.ShowMessage();

}

}

class MyClass

{

static MyClass()

{

Console.WriteLine("Constructor ran!");

}

public void ShowMessage()

{

Console.WriteLine("Message printed!");

}

}

}

 

[ShaneB]

You may also want to review section 17.1 of the C# Specification located
here:

http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/Ecma-334.pdf

which states briefly:
"The static constructor for a class executes at most once in a given
application domain. The execution of a static constructor is triggered by
the first of the following events to occur within an application domain:
* An instance of the class is created.
* Any of the static members of the class are referenced."

ShaneB