CTS defines all of the basic types that can be used in the .NET Framework and the operations performed on those type. All this time we have been talking about language interoperability, and .NET Class Framework. None of this is possible without all the language sharing the same data types. What this means is that an int should mean the same in VB, VC++, C# and all other .NET compliant languages. This is achieved through introduction of Common Type System (CTS).

In order that two language communicate smoothly CLR has CTS (Common Type System).Example in VB you have “Integer” and in C++ you have “long” these datatypes are not compatible so the interfacing between them is very complicated. In order to able that two different languages can communicate Microsoft introduced Common Type System. So “Integer” datatype in VB6 and “int” datatype in C++ will convert it to System.int32 which is datatype of CTS.

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S.VinothkumaR
Behind me is infinite power,
Before me is Endless Possibility,
Around me is Boundless Opportunity,
Why should I fear!

hey guys,

I have some ideas about CTS.In Common Type system there are few functions too.

* Establishes a framework that helps enable cross-language integration, type safety, and high performance code execution.

* Provides an object-oriented model that supports the complete implementation of many programming languages.

* Defines rules that languages must follow, which helps ensure that objects written in different languages can interact with each other.

Type categories

The common type system supports two general categories of types:

Value types

Value types directly contain their data, and instances of value types are either allocated on the stack or allocated inline in a structure. Value types can be built-in (implemented by the runtime), user-defined, or enumerations.

Reference types

Reference types store a reference to the value's memory address, and are allocated on the heap. Reference types can be self-describing types, pointer types, or interface types. The type of a reference type can be determined from values of self-describing types. Self-describing types are further split into arrays and class types. The class types are user-defined classes, boxed value types, and delegates.

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Venkat
knowledge is Power

hey venkat,

Your information is very usefull for me about the Types of common Type sysem. Can you give me the example for it.

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H2O

Without us, no one can survive..

hi,

The following example shows the difference between reference types and value types:

Imports System

Class Class1
Public Value As Integer = 0
End Class 'Class1

Class Test
Shared Sub Main()
Dim val1 As Integer = 0
Dim val2 As Integer = val1
val2 = 123
Dim ref1 As New Class1()
Dim ref2 As Class1 = ref1
ref2.Value = 123
Console.WriteLine("Values: {0}, {1}", val1, val2)
Console.WriteLine("Refs: {0}, {1}", ref1.Value, ref2.Value)
End Sub 'Main
End Class 'Test

above said example will be helpful for you "H2o".

__________________
Venkat
knowledge is Power