C# - Passing Parameters by Output

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A return statement can be used for returning only one value from a function. However, using output parameters, you can return two values from a function. Output parameters are similar to reference parameters, except that they transfer data out of the method rather than into it.

The following example illustrates this −

using System;

namespace CalculatorApplication {
   class NumberManipulator {
      public void getValue(out int x ) {
         int temp = 5;
         x = temp;
      }
      static void Main(string[] args) {
         NumberManipulator n = new NumberManipulator();
         
         /* local variable definition */
         int a = 100;
         
         Console.WriteLine("Before method call, value of a : {0}", a);
         
         /* calling a function to get the value */
         n.getValue(out a);

         Console.WriteLine("After method call, value of a : {0}", a);
         Console.ReadLine();
      }
   }
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

Before method call, value of a : 100
After method call, value of a : 5

The variable supplied for the output parameter need not be assigned a value. Output parameters are particularly useful when you need to return values from a method through the parameters without assigning an initial value to the parameter. Go through the following example, to understand this −

using System;

namespace CalculatorApplication {
   class NumberManipulator {
      public void getValues(out int x, out int y ) {
          Console.WriteLine("Enter the first value: ");
          x = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());
          
          Console.WriteLine("Enter the second value: ");
          y = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());
      }
      static void Main(string[] args) {
         NumberManipulator n = new NumberManipulator();
         
         /* local variable definition */
         int a , b;
         
         /* calling a function to get the values */
         n.getValues(out a, out b);
         
         Console.WriteLine("After method call, value of a : {0}", a);
         Console.WriteLine("After method call, value of b : {0}", b);
         Console.ReadLine();
      }
   }
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

Enter the first value:
7
Enter the second value:
8
After method call, value of a : 7
After method call, value of b : 8