Exploring Implicitly Typed Variables in C#

When learning C#, one of the convenient features I discovered is implicitly typed variables. Using the var keyword, you can let the compiler infer the type of a variable based on the value you assign. This can make your code cleaner and easier to read.

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What Are Implicitly Typed Variables?

Implicitly typed variables are declared using the var keyword:

var myFavoriteWoman = "Wife"; // inferred as string
var myFavoriteNumber = 13;    // inferred as int
var herFavoriteNumber = 7;    // inferred as int

Here, the compiler automatically determines the data type:

• "Wife" → string

• 13 → int

• 7 → int

Important: var is not a dynamic type. The type is fixed at compile time, and you cannot later assign a value of a different type.

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Using Implicitly Typed Variables in Calculations

You can use these variables in expressions just like explicitly typed ones:

int ourNumbersTogether = myFavoriteNumber + herFavoriteNumber;

var ourNumbersTogetherVar = myFavoriteNumber + herFavoriteNumber; // inferred as int

Console.WriteLine(ourNumbersTogetherVar); // Output: 20
Console.WriteLine(ourNumbersTogether);    // Output: 20

Both ourNumbersTogether and ourNumbersTogetherVar hold the same value, but the second one demonstrates how var can simplify your code by letting the compiler handle type inference.

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What I Learned

1. Cleaner Code – var reduces the need to explicitly write long type names.

2. Type Safety – Even though var infers the type, it’s still strongly typed; the type cannot change after assignment.

3. Readability – When used correctly, var makes code more readable, especially for complex types like collections or LINQ queries.