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C# C# Objects Methods Documentation

Nicholas Wallen
Nicholas Wallen
12,278 Points
Posted by Nicholas Wallen
Nicholas Wallen
12,278 Points

Explain Like I Am Five: Why is AddDays() an instance method but DateTime() is static?

This is extra confusing to me. Can someone explain this in the simplest of terms? Not jargon?

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

Instance methods only work on an instance.

So it makes sense that AddDays would be an instance method because you need an instance to add the days to. You can expect instance methods to either get something from, or do something to, the instance that they are applied to.

On the other hand, all constructors (like DateTime) have to be static because you use them to create an instance, and therefore you don't already have one that you could apply them to.

Does that help make it clear?