All 10 Modern C# Features (Global Usings, File-Scoped Namespaces, Top-Level Statements) questions
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C# › Modern C# Features (Global Usings, File-Scoped Namespaces, Top-Level Statements)

What are top-level statements, and how do they simplify a basic C# program's entry point?

Beginner

Answer

Top-level statements (C# 9+) let you write executable code directly at the top of a .cs file WITHOUT wrapping it in an explicit Main() method or even a class — the compiler automatically generates the boilerplate Program class and Main method behind the scenes, reducing a minimal console app to just the code that actually matters.
// Program.cs -- entire program, no boilerplate needed
Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
var numbers = new[] { 1, 2, 3 };
Console.WriteLine(numbers.Sum());
Real-world example Writing a small utility script or a new minimal ASP.NET Core project's Program.cs without unnecessary ceremony.

Common follow-ups: Can you still access command-line arguments (the 'args' array) in a file using top-level statements?

Fundamentals
All 10 Modern C# Features (Global Usings, File-Scoped Namespaces, Top-Level Statements) questions