In C#, you can format an integer with commas (thousands separator) using ToString with a format specifier.
int number = 1234567; string formattedNumber = number.ToString("N0"); // "1,234,567" Console.WriteLine(formattedNumber);
Explanation:
"N0": The "N" format specifier stands for Number, and "0" means no decimal places. The output depends on the culture settings, so in regions where , is the decimal separator, you might get 1.234.567.
Alternative:
You can also specify culture explicitly if you need a specific format:
using System.Globalization; int number = 1234567; string formattedNumber = number.ToString("N0", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture); Console.WriteLine(formattedNumber); // "1,234,567"
When working with URLs in C#, encoding is essential to ensure that special characters (like spaces, ?, &, and =) don’t break the URL structure. The recommended way to encode a string for a URL is by using Uri.EscapeDataString(), which converts unsafe characters into their percent-encoded equivalents.
string rawText = "hello world!"; string encodedText = Uri.EscapeDataString(rawText); Console.WriteLine(encodedText); // Output: hello%20world%21
This method encodes spaces as %20, making it ideal for query parameters.
For ASP.NET applications, you can also use HttpUtility.UrlEncode() (from System.Web), which encodes spaces as +:
using System.Web; string encodedText = HttpUtility.UrlEncode("hello world!"); Console.WriteLine(encodedText); // Output: hello+world%21
For .NET Core and later, Uri.EscapeDataString() is the preferred choice.
Storing passwords as plain text is dangerous. Instead, you should hash them using a strong, slow hashing algorithm like BCrypt, which includes built-in salting and resistance to brute-force attacks.
Step 1: Install BCrypt NuGet Package
Before using BCrypt, install the BCrypt.Net-Next package:
dotnet add package BCrypt.Net-Next
or via NuGet Package Manager:
Install-Package BCrypt.Net-Next
Step 2: Hash a Password
Use BCrypt.HashPassword() to securely hash a password before storing it:
using BCrypt.Net; string password = "mySecurePassword123"; string hashedPassword = BCrypt.HashPassword(password); Console.WriteLine(hashedPassword); // Output: $2a$12$...
Step 3: Verify a Password
To check a user's login attempt, use BCrypt.Verify():
bool isMatch = BCrypt.Verify("mySecurePassword123", hashedPassword); Console.WriteLine(isMatch); // Output: True
Ensuring proper hashing should be at the top of your list when it comes to building authentication systems.
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a widely used format for storing and transporting data.
In C#, you can create XML files efficiently using the XmlWriter and XDocument classes. This guide covers both methods with practical examples.
XmlWriter
XDocument
XmlWriter provides a fast and memory-efficient way to generate XML files by writing elements sequentially.
using System; using System.Xml; class Program { static void Main() { using (XmlWriter writer = XmlWriter.Create("person.xml")) { writer.WriteStartDocument(); writer.WriteStartElement("Person"); writer.WriteElementString("FirstName", "John"); writer.WriteElementString("LastName", "Doe"); writer.WriteElementString("Age", "30"); writer.WriteEndElement(); writer.WriteEndDocument(); } Console.WriteLine("XML file created successfully."); } }
Output (person.xml):
person.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <Person> <FirstName>John</FirstName> <LastName>Doe</LastName> <Age>30</Age> </Person>
The XDocument class from LINQ to XML provides a more readable and flexible way to create XML files.
using System; using System.Xml.Linq; class Program { static void Main() { XDocument doc = new XDocument( new XElement("Person", new XElement("FirstName", "John"), new XElement("LastName", "Doe"), new XElement("Age", "30") ) ); doc.Save("person.xml"); Console.WriteLine("XML file created successfully."); } }
This approach is ideal for working with complex XML structures and integrating LINQ queries.
Writing XML files in C# is straightforward with XmlWriter and XDocument. Choose the method that best suits your needs for performance, readability, and maintainability.
Register for my free weekly newsletter.