Question

Why does the new operator exist in modern languages such as C# and Java? Is it purely a self documenting code feature, or does it serve any actual purpose?

For instance the following example:

Class1 obj = new Class1();  Class1 foo() {     return new Class1(); } 

Is as easy to read as the more Pythonesque way of writing it:

Class1 obj = Class1();  Class1 foo() {     return Class1(); } 

EDIT: Cowan hit the nail on the head with the clarification of the question: Why did they choose this syntax?

Answer 1

1. It’s a self documenting feature.
2. It’s a way to make it possible to name a method ‘Class1’ in some other class