Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) Certification Practice Test

What method is typically used to add extra functionalities to existing types in C#?

1. Extension Methods

2. Inheritance

3. Interfaces

4. Abstract classes

The correct answer is: Extension Methods

The method used to add extra functionalities to existing types in C# is through extension methods. Extension methods are a feature in C# that allows developers to "add" new methods to existing types without modifying the original type or creating a new derived type. This is particularly useful for increasing the functionality of built-in types or classes for which you do not have access to the source code. When you define an extension method, you create a static method in a static class, where the first parameter of the method specifies the type that you are extending, preceded by the `this` keyword. This makes it possible to call the method as if it were an instance method on the extended type, providing a natural and intuitive syntax. By using extension methods, developers can keep their code cleaner and more modular, allowing them to utilize enhanced functionalities without cluttering the original type definitions. This technique promotes the reuse of code and helps to follow the principles of object-oriented programming by allowing flexibility in how classes can be enhanced. While inheritance, interfaces, and abstract classes are important concepts in C#, they serve different purposes. Inheritance allows one class to inherit the properties and methods of another, interfaces define contracts that must be implemented by a class, and abstract classes provide a base