C# Programming/Keywords/var

The var keyword can be used in place of a type when declaring a variable to allow the compiler to infer the type of the variable. This feature can be used to shorten variable declarations, especially when instantiating generic types, and is even necessary with LINQ expressions (since queries may generate very complex types).

The following:

int num = 123;
string str = "asdf";
Dictionary<int, string> dict = new Dictionary<int, string>();

is equivalent to:

var num = 123;
var str = "asdf";
var dict = new Dictionary<int, string>();

var does not create a "variant" type; the type is simply inferred by the compiler. In situations where the type cannot be inferred, the compiler generates an error:

var str; // no assignment, can't infer type

void Function(var arg1, var arg2) // can't infer type
{
    ...
}

C# Keywords
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 unchecked unsafe ushort using var virtual void volatile while
Special C# Identifiers (Contextual Keywords)
add alias async await dynamic get global nameof partial remove set value when where yield
Contextual Keywords (Used in Queries)
ascending by descending equals from group in into join let on orderby select where

Note: Var is not a keyword