What is the Difference between read only and constant variables?

Answer 1

const in c#

• You have to initialize const variables while declaration.
• You cannot reassign a const variable.
• Compiler evaluates the const variables.
• The static modifier is not allowed in a constant declaration.
• A const field of a reference type other than string can only be initialized with null.

Example:

using System;
using System.Text;

namespace ProgramCAll
{

    class ProgramCall
    {
        /*A const field of a reference type other than string
        can only be initialized with null*/
        private const StringBuilder myName = null;

        public static void Main()
        {
            //You have to initilize Const varabiles while declartion
            const int myEmpId = 173524;

            //Valid scenario
            const int myNumber = 10 + 16;

            const string myName = "John";

            // Reassigning a const variable is not allowed.
            //Comment out below code to run the program
            myEmpId = 23456;

            Console.WriteLine(myEmpId);

            Console.Read();
        }
    }
}

readonly in c#

• readonly fields can be initialized only while declaration or in the constructor.
• Once you initialize a readonly field, you cannot reassign it.
• You can use static modifier for readonly fields
• readonly modifier can be used with reference types
• readonly modifier can be used only for instance or static fields, you cannot use readonly keyword for variables in the methods.

Example:

using System;
using System.Text;

namespace ProgramCall
{
    class MyClass
    {
        //readonly can only be used with instance or static variables
        public readonly int mynumber = 10;
        public readonly int addnumber = 10 + 15;

        //readonly modifier can be used with static varaibles       
        public static string myEmployer = "ProgramCall.Com";

        //readonly can be used with reference types
        public readonly StringBuilder name = new StringBuilder("John");

        /*  readonly varaible can be intilized in constructor but
             cannot be declared in constructor    */
        public readonly string myName;

        //readonly fields can be initlized in constructor
        public MyClass(string name)
        {
            myName = name;

        }

        private void myMethod()
        {
            /* readonly modifier cannot be used in method level variables
           the below line throws a error. */
            //  readonly int num = 5;
        }

    }

    //main class
    class ProgramCall
    {

        public static void Main()
        {
            MyClass obj = new MyClass("Bill");

            Console.Read();
        }
    }
}

Answer 2

Read only: can assign the values at runtime only.

Constant: will assign the values at compile time only.

We cannot modify the both variable values.