What is the difference between a class and a struct in C#?
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Simple meaning
Classes are reference types on the heap
WHY — C# instead of guessing?
Why interviewers care about C#:
They want a clean
contrast on C#, not two memorised paragraphs.
Say what changes for
the developer, then one case where picking wrong hurts.
Stay structured
Name the idea, why it exists, then one short example.
Close cleanly
End with when you use it and one common pitfall.
STEPS — What happens step by step?
Before you speak the answer, walk the interviewer through these steps:
- 1Classes are reference types
on the heap
- 2structs are value types
copied by value.
- 3How it works
Structs suit small immutable data.
- 4Large mutable structs cause
copy bugs, so I default to classes for most domain objects.
- 5Common mistake
What juniors usually get wrong.
- 6Close
When you pick this over the alternative.
EXAMPLE — See it in action
Here's a short line you can speak, broken into clear beats:
Say this line
“Structs suit small immutable data.”
Break into beats
Structssuitsmallimmutabledata
Speaking order
298740833747163290
Note: Adapt this scaffold to your own project — keep it under 60–90 seconds.
Key takeaway
Classes are reference types on the heap structs are value types copied by value.