Question

Why does my parameter x behave so erratically?

1. Example 1 – Doesn’t exist in the current context.
2. Example 2 – Cannot reuse x because it’s defined in a ‘child’ scope.
3. Example 3 – Fine. This is the part where I am confused. Perhaps a different ‘child’ scope?

Example 1:

List<int> list = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
var result = list.Where(x => x < 3);
Console.Write(result.ElementAt(x));

creates this compile time error:

The name ‘x’ does not exist in the current context

which I expect.

Example 2:

List<int> list = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
var result = list.Where(x => x < 3);
int x = 1;
Console.Write(result.ElementAt(x));

produces this compile-time error:

A local variable named ‘x’ cannot be declared in this scope because it
would give a different meaning to ‘x’, which is already used in a
‘child’ scope to denote something else

I understand the scoping as answered in this question, Is there a reason for C#'s reuse of the variable in a foreach?. However, this is something I’ve never seen before. In addition, it makes the answers to this question, What is the scope of a lambda variable in C#?, incomplete or wrong.

Example 3:

List<int> list = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
List<string> stringList = new List<string> { "A", "B" };
var result = list.Where(x => x < 3);
var result2 = stringList.Where(x => x != "A");

Console.Write(result2);

No errors produced.

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With the accepted answer, these blog posts from Eric Lippert helped me wrap my head around what was happening. If anyone is still confused:

declaration space

simple names

Answer 1

In Example 1, x is defined in the local scope of the lamdba expression and is not visible to the third line

In Example 2, now you’ve declared two variables named “x” at the same declaration scope (visibility is different)

With a lambda or anonymous method, it “captures” the scope at which it is running. If you have a local x in the same scope as the lambda definition, then it “captures” that x to pull into what the lambda can access–thus resulting in two definitions of “x”. What you declare in the lambda doesn’t get captured in the other direction so it isn’t visible outside the lambda.

In Example 3, Now you’re not using a variable that is local only the lambda outside the lambda, and not naming something the same at the same declaration scope.