C# Keywords and Contextual Keywords: A Comprehensive Guide

Understand the difference between C# keywords and contextual keywords. This tutorial provides a complete list, explains their usage, and clarifies when the `@` symbol is needed to use them as identifiers, enhancing your understanding of C# syntax and semantics.

C# Keywords and Contextual Keywords

C# keywords are reserved words with special meanings in the language. They cannot be used as identifiers (variable names, class names, etc.) unless prefixed with the `@` symbol. Contextual keywords have special meaning only within specific contexts.

C# Keywords

These keywords are reserved and cannot be used as identifiers without the `@` prefix:

`abstract`	`as`	`base`	`bool`	`break`
`byte`	`case`	`catch`	`char`	`checked`
`class`	`const`	`continue`	`decimal`	`default`
`delegate`	`do`	`double`	`else`	`enum`
`event`	`explicit`	`extern`	`false`	`finally`
`fixed`	`float`	`for`	`foreach`	`goto`
`if`	`implicit`	`in`	`int`	`interface`
`internal`	`is`	`lock`	`long`	`namespace`
`new`	`null`	`object`	`operator`	`out`
`override`	`params`	`private`	`protected`	`public`
`readonly`	`ref`	`return`	`sbyte`	`sealed`
`short`	`sizeof`	`stackalloc`	`static`	`string`
`struct`	`switch`	`this`	`throw`	`true`
`try`	`typeof`	`uint`	`ulong`	`ushort`
`unchecked`	`unsafe`	`using`	`virtual`	`void`
`volatile`	`while`

C# Contextual Keywords

Contextual keywords have special meaning only in specific parts of the code (like within LINQ queries):

`add`	`ascending`	`descending`	`dynamic`	`from`
`get`	`global`	`group`	`into`	`join`
`let`	`orderby`	`partial`	`remove`	`select`
`set`	`value`	`yield`