Develop Reference

How to pass parameter to static class constructor?

I have a static class with a static constructor. I need to pass a parameter somehow to this static class but I'm not sure how the best way is.
What would you recommend?
public static class MyClass {
static MyClass() {
DoStuff("HardCodedParameter")
}
}

Don't use a static constructor, but a static initialization method:
public class A
{
private static string ParamA { get; set; }
public static void Init(string paramA)
{
ParamA = paramA;
}
}
In C#, static constructors are parameterless, and there're few approaches to overcome this limitation. One is what I've suggested you above.

As per MSDN, A static constructor is called automatically to initialize the class before the first instance is created. Therefore you can't send any parameters.
CLR must call a static constructor, how will it know which parameters to pass it?
So don't use a static constructor.
Here's the work around for your requirement.
public class StaticClass
{
private int bar;
private static StaticClass _foo;
private StaticClass() {}
static StaticClass Create(int initialBar)
{
_foo = new StaticClass();
_foo.bar = initialBar;
return _foo;
}
}
Static constructors have the following properties:
A static constructor does not take access modifiers or have parameters. A static constructor is called automatically to
initialize the class before the first instance is created or any
static members are referenced.
A static constructor cannot be called directly.
The user has no control on when the static constructor is executed in the program.
A typical use of static constructors is when the class is using a log file and the constructor is used to write entries to this file.
Static constructors are also useful when creating wrapper classes for unmanaged code, when the constructor can call the LoadLibrary
method.
If a static constructor throws an exception, the runtime will not invoke it a second time, and the type will remain uninitialized for
the lifetime of the application domain in which your program is
running.

If by "HardCodedParameter" you really mean hard coded, you can use constants.
public static class YoursClass
{
public const string AnotherHardCodedParam = "Foo";
}
public static class MyClass
{
private const string HardCodedParam = "FooBar";
static MyClass()
{
DoStuff(MyClass.HardCodedParam);
DoStuff(YoursClass.AnotherHardCodedParam);
}
}
Also, you can use static readonly properties.

Constructors on non-static class have have the benefit to ensure they're properly initialized before they're actually being used.
Since static classes don't have this benefit, you have to make ensure that yourself.
Use a static constructor with an obvious name, then in the relevant portion of your static procedures check to make sure the initialization has been performed.
The example below assumes your want to "initialize" your static class with a Form object.
public static class MyClass
{
private static Form FormMain { get; set; }
public static void Init(Form initForm)
{
FormMain = initForm;
}
private static bool InitCheck()
{
return FormMain != null ? true: false;
}
public static void DoStuff()
{
if (InitCheck())
{
// Do your things
}
else
{
throw new Exception("Object reference not set to an instance of an object");
}
}
}

How is the method called in static class

My code is as follows
class MyStaticClass
{
static MyStaticClass{};
public static readonly MyStaticClass Instance = CreateMe();
public static int GetSomeValue = GetValue();
private static int GetValue()
{
return 0;
}
private static MyStaticClass CreateMe()
{
Console.WriteLine("This method was called");
return new MyStaticClass();
}
}
public class Program
{
public static void Main()
{
int val=MyStaticClass.GetSomeValue;
}
}
O/p:
This method was called
When I call val why does the debugger accesses CreateMe method ? Is it that any static method I access it will access all the static methods in the class ?

The method CreateMe() is called because you are calling in when you create object Instance in the following statement.
public static readonly MyStaticClass Instance = CreateMe();
This is static object in your class and is created as you access the class which you did by MyStaticClass.GetSomeValue.
Dubugging the code will give you clear view of the order of the statements get executed. You can go through this detailed article on MSDN regarding debugging Debugger Roadmap

You have a static initializer for a static field. As part of program startup, all static fields are evaluated.
Edit: small clarification here:
The static fields in a particular class are evaluated in declaration order, but there in no particular order for which class has it's static fields initialized first.
Now, if you had a static property, that would be different.
MSDN link

Both fields have been initialized using the static methods. So, in that case, all the static methods will be evaluated.

Class Initialize() in C#?

In Obj-c there is the static Initialize method which is called the first time that class is used, be it statically or by an instance. Anything like that in C#?

You can write a static constructor with the same syntax as a normal constructor, except with the static modifier (and no access modifiers):
public class Foo {
static Foo() {
// Code here
}
}
Usually you don't need to do this, however - static constructors are there for initialization, which is normally fine to do just in static field initializers:
public class Foo {
private static readonly SomeType SomeField = ...;
}
If you're using a static constructor to do more than initialize static fields, that's usually a design smell - but not always.
Note that the presence of a static constructor subtly affects the timing of type initialization, requiring it to be executed just prior to the first use - either when the first static member access, or before the first instance is created, whichever happens first.

There is a static constructor. As per msdn:
A static constructor is used to initialize any static data, or to perform a particular action that needs to be performed once only. It is called automatically before the first instance is created or any static members are referenced.
public class Foo
{
static Foo() {} //static constructor
}

Yes, it is called a constructor.
By MSDN:
public class Taxi
{
public bool isInitialized;
//This is the normal constructor, which is invoked upon creation.
public Taxi()
{
//All the code in here will be called whenever a new class
//is created.
isInitialized = true;
}
//This is the static constructor, which is invoked before initializing any Taxi class
static Taxi()
{
Console.WriteLine("Invoked static constructor");
}
}
class TestTaxi
{
static void Main()
{
Taxi t = new Taxi(); //Create a new Taxi, therefore call the normal constructor
Console.WriteLine(t.isInitialized);
}
}
//Output:
//Invoked static constructor
//true

.Net : Do static constructors get called when a constant is access?

So here is what I'm thinking...
public class MyClass
{
public const string MyConstant = "MyConstantValue";
private static MyClass DefaultInstance;
static MyClass()
{
DefaultInstance = new MyClass();
}
}
...
NotificationService.RegisterForNotification(MyClass.MyConstant, Callback);
Will this work or do I need to use something like a static readonly property field to trigger the static constructor?

Use of a constant doesn't necessarily result in a member access which would cause the static constructor to be called. The compiler is allowed to (encouraged, even) substitute the value of the constant at compile time.
Your suggested workaround of static readonly should be ok, although readonly suggests a field, not a property. Properties are read-only when they have no setter, the readonly keyword isn't involved.
A simple example:
class HasSConstructor
{
internal const int Answer = 42;
static HasSConstructor()
{
System.Console.WriteLine("static constructor running");
}
}
public class Program
{
public static void Main()
{
System.Console.WriteLine("The answer is " + HasSConstructor.Answer.ToString());
}
}
Output under .NET 4.0:
The answer is 42
The static constructor never runs!

Static constructor is called automatically before the first instance is created or any static members are referenced. See here: MSDN: Static Constructors
By the way, constant fields are inherently static, but as pointed they may (and probably will) be substituted by the value itself.

The static constructor will not be called if you're just accessing public constants. For example, consider this class:
class Testo
{
public const string MyValue = "Hello, world";
public static readonly int xyzzy;
static Testo()
{
Console.WriteLine("In static constructor");
xyzzy = 27;
}
}
Now, in another class, execute:
Console.WriteLine(Testo.MyValue);
Console.WriteLine(Testo.xyzzy);
Your output will be:
Hello, world
In static constructor
27
Constants are hoisted from the class at compile time. So the value of Testo.MyValue does not reference the Testo class at runtime. The static constructor is not called until you call something that requires initialization.
So, yes, you need to access something like a static readonly if you want to ensure that the constructor is called.

No, you don't need such. Static constructor is called when the class is loaded.

Static Method Calls

Does each static call will initiate a new thread?
For E.g.:
class A
{
public static void displayName()
{
Console.WriteLine("myName");
}
public static void displayAge()
{
Console.WriteLine("myAge");
}
}
class B
{
public void Foo()
{
A.displayName();
A.displayAge();
}
}
Will the above calls runs independent of each other? If yes, then, is it something similar to Threading?

Reply to your doubt regarding static call:
But i heard each static call is
independent of each other as there is
no instance and only static members
are involved. is it so? – Sri Kumar 36
mins ago
You can think there is a 'global' instance of your class, and all static methods are held by this instance.
As in your example, you can create a 'user' instance by calling ClassA myA = new ClassA(). Meanwhile, there will be a 'global' instance, which is created by the runtime but invisible to you, and static methods reside in this instance. Static methods behavior as instance methods within this 'global' instance.
Amazingly, in C# there is a static constructor, which will be called when the 'global' instance is initialized by the runtime.
You can test this code:
class A
{
static A() {
Console.WriteLine("Creating the global instance of class A....");
}
public static void displayName()
{
Console.WriteLine("myName");
}
public static void displayAge()
{
Console.WriteLine("myAge");
}
}
class B
{
public void Foo()
{
A.displayName();
A.displayAge();
}
}
The output will be:
Creating the global instance of class A....
myName
myAge
Apart from this, static methods have nothing difference from instance methods.
Variables in each static method will have its own scope, and they are independent from one method to another method.

No they will run sequentially on the same thread

No. Static methods are like any other methods unless you invoke them in different threads they will run in same thread from which you have invoked.
It really depends on where do you invoke. Static methods itself does not create any threads and run within.

A static method is a method that does not have any class associated with it. This means that calling a static method does not have to go through any indirection, unlike a virtual method which is resolved based on the object it is called on.
All methods will run on the thread of the invoking method, whether virtual or static. If you want a method to run on a different thread, use the thread pool or some other technique.

One more thing:
i heard each static call is independent of each other
Static method calls are not really independent.
Static method can still access other static fields and properties within the same class, or publicly visible static fields and properties of other classes, which are also global and retained during the lifetime of your app.
Static methods which are changing the state of static fields are not "independent", as you suggested. The only thing you can say for sure that they are always invoked on a single instance (always using the same private data).