Nested Classes in C#

16 Sep, 2021
A class is a user-defined blueprint or prototype from which objects are created. Basically, a class combines the fields and methods (member function which defines actions) into a single unit. In C#, a user is allowed to define a class within another class. Such types of classes are known as nested class. This feature enables the user to logically group classes that are only used in one place, thus this increases the use of encapsulation, and create more readable and maintainable code.
Syntax:
class Outer_class {

       // Code..

       class Inner_class {

          // Code.. 
       }
}
Example:
C#
// C# program to illustrate the// concept of nested classusing System; // Outer classpublic class Outer_class {     // Method of outer class    public void method1()    {        Console.WriteLine("Outer class method");    }     // Inner class    public class Inner_class {         // Method of inner class        public void method2()        {            Console.WriteLine("Inner class Method");        }    }} // Driver Classpublic class GFG {     // Main method    static public void Main()    {         // Create the instance of outer class        Outer_class obj1 = new Outer_class();        obj1.method1();         // This statement gives an error because        // you are not allowed to access inner        // class methods with outer class objects        // obj1. method2();         // Creating an instance of inner class        Outer_class.Inner_class obj2 =                    new Outer_class.Inner_class();         // Accessing the method of inner class        obj2.method2();    }}
Output: 
Outer class method
Inner class Method
Important points: 
A nested class can be declared as a private, public, protected, internal, protected internal, or private protected.
Outer class is not allowed to access inner class members directly as shown in above example.
You are allowed to create objects of inner class in outer class.
Inner class can access static member declared in outer class as shown in the below example:Example:
C#
// C# program to illustrate the// concept of nested class accessing// static members of the outer classusing System; // Outer classpublic class Outer_class {     // Static data member of the outer class    public static string str = "Geeksforgeeks";     // Inner class    public class Inner_class {         // Static method of Inner class        public static void method1()        {             // Displaying the value of a            // static member of the outer class            Console.WriteLine(Outer_class.str);        }    }} // Driver Classpublic class GFG {     // Main method    static public void Main()    {         // Accessing static method1        // of the inner class        Outer_class.Inner_class.method1();    }}
Output :
Geeksforgeeks
Inner class can access non-static member declared in outer class as shown in the below example:Example:
C#
// C# program to illustrate the// concept of nested class// accessing non-static member// of the outer classusing System; // Outer classpublic class Outer_class {     // Non-static data    // member of outer class    public int number = 1000000;     // Inner class    public class Inner_class {         // Static method of Inner class        public static void method1()        {            // Creating the object of the outer class            Outer_class obj = new Outer_class();             // Displaying the value of a            // static member of the outer class            // with the help of obj            Console.WriteLine(obj.number);        }    }} // Driver Classpublic class GFG {     // Main method    static public void Main()    {         // Accessing static method1        // of inner class        Outer_class.Inner_class.method1();    }}
Output : 
1000000
Instance Inner class can access non-static member declared in Outer class as shown in the below example:Example:
C#
// C# program to illustrate the// concept of nested class// accessing non-static member// of the outer classusing System; // Outer classpublic class Outer_class {     // Non-static data    // member of outer class    public int number = 2000000;     // Non-static reference to Inner_class    // instance.    public Inner_class Inner { get; set; }     // Constructor to establish link between    // instance of Outer_class to its    // instance of the Inner_class    public Outer_class() {        this.Inner = new Inner_class(this);    }     // Inner class    public class Inner_class {         // private field to hold        // reference to an instance        // of the Outer_class        private Outer_class obj;         // constructor that establishes        // a reference to the Outer_class        // to use within an Inner_cass instance        public Inner_class(Outer_class outer)        {            obj = outer;        }         // Method of Inner class        public void method1()        {            // Displaying the value of a            // member of the outer class            // with the help of obj            Console.WriteLine(obj.number);        }    }} // Driver Classpublic class GFG {     // Main method    public static void Main()    {        // Create instance of Outer_class        Outer_class Outer = new Outer_class();         // Accessing static method1        // of inner class        Outer.Inner.method1();    }}
Output : 
2000000
The scope of a nested class is bounded by the scope of its enclosing class.
By default, the nested class is private.
In C#, a user is allowed to inherit a class (including nested class) into another class. Example:
C#
// C# program to illustrate the// concept inheritanceusing System; // Outer classpublic class Outer_class {     // Method of outer class    public void method1()    {        Console.WriteLine("Outer class method");    }     // Inner class    public class Inner_class {    }} // Derived classpublic class Exclass : Outer_class {     // Method of derived class    public void func()    {        Console.WriteLine("Method of derived class");    }} // Driver Classpublic class GFG {     // Main method    static public void Main()    {         // Creating object of        // the derived class        Exclass obj = new Exclass();        obj.func();        obj.method1();    }}
Output : 
Method of derived class
Outer class method
In C#, the user is allowed to inherit a nested class from the outer class.
 
corykoski
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CSharp-OOP
C#
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