What is the difference between const and readonly in C#?

Question

What is the difference between const and readonly in C#?

When would you use one over the other?

Answer 1

There is a small gotcha with readonly. A readonly field can be set multiple times within the constructor(s). Even if the value is set in two different chained constructors it is still allowed.

public class Sample {
    private readonly string ro;

    public Sample() {
        ro = "set";
    }

    public Sample(string value) : this() {
        ro = value; // this works even though it was set in the no-arg ctor
    }
}