C# `ref` Keyword: When Should You Use It and When Is It Unnecessary?

When to use ref in C# and when not required

In C#, passing reference type parameters by value only involves passing the reference itself, not a copy of the object. This is similar to passing pointers by value in C or C. Modifications to parameter values ​​are limited to within the function, while changes to the underlying object are propagated back to the caller.

On the other hand, when parameters are passed by reference, any changes made to them are visible to the caller because they represent changes to actual variables.

While it may seem confusing at first, it is crucial to understand the difference between pass by value and pass by reference. In general, it is strongly recommended to avoid using ref/out unless absolutely necessary. These mechanisms actually allow additional return values ​​to be retrieved, and it is best to minimize their use to prevent methods from becoming overly complex.

In the case mentioned in the question, received_s does not require the ref argument because no copy of the object is created when its value is passed to the function. However, remoteEP requires ref because the function intends to change its value and make the modification visible to the caller.

Remember that objects in C# are essentially pointers to actual objects. When an object is passed to a function, a pointer is actually passed through which the contents of the object are allowed to be modified. You should use ref/out only when you really need to exchange or create a new object inside a function, which is similar to using double pointers.

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