C#: does using ref/out for a method parameter make any difference if an object variable is being passed?

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Passing By ref and out

C#: does using ref/out for a method parameter make any difference if an object variable is being passed?

In C#, an object variable passes only a reference to the method, which means it is already a ref/out parameter. Is this correct?

Answer 1

The instance is passed by reference. The pointer to the instance is passed by value, though.

If you use ref, the pointer is passed by reference as well - therefore you can use:

private void CustomDispose(ref object x) { x.Dispose(); x = null; }

CustomDispose(ref someInstance.someField);

someInstance's field will be assigned to null. It might be useful in Disposing via a custom method for example.