Question

In ASP.NET, having a MasterPage and using C#, I can use ContentPlaceHolder with or without the new keyword and the quantity of method and properties from this class are the same.

I.e, both

ContentPlaceHolder ctph;

and

ContentPlaceHolder ctph = new ContenPlanceHolder();

have the same methods and properties. I don’t understand why I can use the ctph variable without the new keyword.

Answer 1

ContentPlaceHolder ctph;

ctph has the value default(ContentPlaceHolder). for a reference type this will be null. For a value type this will be a valid object with all fields default initialized.

ContentPlaceHolder is a reference type, so, when you say:

Has the same methods and properties.

Well, yeah, because those are defined by the type. Are you determining this via Intellisense? Umm… don’t. Try calling a method and see what happens.