Using “value” as an identifier in C#

Question

In writing short helper functions, I often find myself wanting to use the variable identifier \"value\" as an argument. It seems as though Visual Studio compiles this just f

Answer 1

It is fine to use value as an identifier anywhere outside a set accessor. The C# Language Specification (linking old version) says:

Since a set accessor implicitly has a parameter named value, it is a compile-time error for a local variable or constant declaration in a set accessor to have that name.

The Word value is not (and was never) a full keyword in C#, even if it has had this special use in setters ever since C# 1.

See value (C# Reference) for more.

Of course, if you have a field (class-level variable) called value and you want to access it from within a set accessor, use this.value (or NameOfYourType.value for static fields).

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For a list of real keywords and contextual "keywords", also see C# Keywords.