C-SHARP - 1.2 What is C-Sharp?

Before diving into the syntax, a quick history. C# was created by Anders Hejlsberg at Microsoft and released in 2000. It is a simple, modern, flexible, object-oriented, type-safe and open-source programming language. Microsoft has invested heavily in it over the years. Built on top of the C and C++ family but designed to be easier to use, C# ships with a vast standard library that lets you tackle a wide range of tasks out of the box.

At launch, C# was exclusively a Windows language because the .NET runtime was tied to Microsoft's operating system. That limitation discouraged many developers from adopting it. The release of .NET Core (now just .NET) changed everything: the framework was redesigned to be cross-platform, running natively on Linux and macOS in addition to Windows. The audience grew accordingly, and today C# sits among the most popular programming languages in the world — meaning plenty of tutorials, libraries and StackOverflow answers when you get stuck. Companies like Domino's Pizza and NBC ship production software written in C#.

What you can build with C#

  • Native Windows apps via WPF, WinForms and WinUI.
  • Web apps and APIs with ASP.NET on top of .NET.
  • Mobile apps for iOS and Android using Xamarin / .NET MAUI.
  • Console tools, blockchain logic and AI workloads via ML.NET.
  • Video games with the Unity engine, where C# is the scripting language behind titles like RimWorld.

C# is easy to read and easy to learn, especially for beginners. Combined with Visual Studio and .NET, it gives you a single language to target almost any platform. Unity in particular is a great playground for newcomers: large community, abundant YouTube tutorials and dedicated forums make it an ideal way to gain hands-on experience with the language. To wrap up: C# is one of the most versatile modern languages out there, backed by both Microsoft and a strong community. In the next video we will install everything we need to start writing our own code.

Summary

C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft, built on C and C++ but designed for simplicity and ease of use. Originally exclusive to Windows, C# has evolved into a multi-platform language through the .NET Core framework, enabling developers to build on Linux and Mac as well. The language is widely adopted by major enterprises and offers a versatile ecosystem supporting console apps, mobile development, web applications, and even AI projects with strong community support.

Key points

  • C# is a modern, object-oriented language created by Microsoft, built on C and C++ foundations but with greater ease of use
  • Originally Windows-exclusive, C# became multi-platform with the introduction of .NET Core, running on Linux and Mac
  • One of the most widely used programming languages with extensive community resources and adoption by major companies
  • Supports diverse application types: console, mobile, Windows native, web, gaming (Unity), and AI applications
  • Developer-friendly with readable syntax, comprehensive libraries, and strong vendor support from Microsoft

FAQ

What is C# and who created it?

C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft. It was built on the foundations of C and C++ but designed to be simpler and more accessible.

Why did C# initially have limited platform support?

Originally, C# was exclusive to Windows because the .NET framework was tied to the Microsoft operating system. Later, the new .NET Core framework was designed to work across multiple operating systems, including Linux and Mac.

What types of applications can I build with C#?

C# is versatile and supports multiple application types: console applications, mobile apps, Windows native applications, web applications, game development (Unity), and artificial intelligence projects.