What Is The Reason To Use The New Keyword At Derived Prototype New Base

Have you ever come across the "new" keyword in software development and wondered about its purpose, especially when dealing with derived prototype new base? If you're curious about why and how to use the "new" keyword in this context, you're in the right place. Let's break it down for you.

In the world of object-oriented programming, the "new" keyword plays a crucial role when it comes to inheritance and polymorphism. When you have a base class with a method or property that you want to override in a derived class, using the "new" keyword is essential for specifying that you are intentionally hiding the base class member with a new implementation in the derived class.

Imagine you have a base class called Base with a method named Display. Now, you create a derived class called Derived that also has a method named Display. By default, the derived class's Display method would override the base class method. However, to specify that you are intentionally hiding the base class's Display method, you can use the "new" keyword in the derived class.

Here's an example to illustrate this concept:

public class Base
{
    public virtual void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Display method in Base class");
    }
}

public class Derived : Base
{
    public new void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Display method in Derived class");
    }
}

In this example, by using the "new" keyword in the Derived class's Display method, you are explicitly indicating that this method is a new implementation and not an override of the base class method. This distinction helps maintain clarity in your code and prevents unexpected behaviors in scenarios involving inheritance.

It's important to note that using the "new" keyword should be done with caution and understanding. While it allows you to hide a base class member in a derived class, it's essential to consider the implications of doing so and ensure that it aligns with your design and intentions.

Another point to keep in mind is that the "new" keyword is different from the "override" keyword in C#. When you use "new," you are simply hiding the base class member, whereas "override" is used to provide a new implementation that extends or modifies the behavior of the base class member.

So, the next time you find yourself working with derived prototype new base and contemplating the usage of the "new" keyword, remember its significance in explicitly indicating the intention to hide a base class member with a new implementation in the derived class. Happy coding!