What is the difference between a class and a datatype?

Question

I have heard the following statement:

We can say class is a datatype or a datatype is one type of class.

Can anyone explain to me wh

Answer 1

All (or almost) all programming languages have a notion of a datatype. A datatype can be things like: Integers, doubles, booleans etc.

C# and other languages allow us to define our own "custom" datatypes. That's where classes come in. Custom datatypes in OO languages are called classes and when we define such classes it is the type definition or type.

Take a look at this Wikipedia page for more information

Answer 2

This article from the MSDN might be of some use in this regard. It tries to explain what Objects, Classes and Structs are in terms of C#.

Answer 3

A class is just one of the data types available in C#:

Data Types:

• Class
• Struct
• Enum
• Delegate
• Interface

NOTE: I may be missing a few in above list

Answer 4

A class is a data type. A datatype is a concept, it's not a class. That is to say, you look at something and say to yourself "Hmm yes, that is so-and-so type of data", or "That is this datatype". Then you say "Specifically, the datatype is List<..>", and so on.