When Exactly Does a C# Static Constructor Get Called?

When the Class Is Accessed for the First Time

When working with static constructors in C#, it's important to understand the timing of their invocation. Unlike instance constructors, which are called upon object creation, static constructors are invoked automatically under specific conditions.

So, when is a static constructor called?

The answer lies in the nature of static members themselves. Static members exist for the lifetime of the program and are shared across all instances of a class. Consequently, their initialization must occur before any other part of the class can be accessed.

To ensure this, the C# runtime invokes the static constructor when the class is accessed for the first time, regardless of whether an object has been created or not. This typically occurs when:

• A static member is referenced, such as a field or method.
• An instance of the class is created.
• The containing assembly is loaded into the runtime.

However, it's worth noting that loading the assembly alone might not trigger the static constructor if no static members are accessed. Only when the assembly is accessed for the first time (usually through its static members) will the static constructor be invoked.

Additional Considerations:

• Static constructors are called only once per class, not per instance.
• They occur before any instance constructors are executed.
• They can be used to perform tasks like initializing static data, setting up the environment, or registering event handlers.

Reference:

• [Static Constructors (C# Programming Guide)](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/classes-and-structs/static-constructors)

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