What is Console in C#?

In C#, the Console class, part of the System namespace, provides essential functionality for interacting with the command-line interface. It is often used to develop command-line applications and to facilitate debugging and logging in graphical applications. This article explains what Console is, its key features, and how to use it effectively in C# programs.

Key Features of the Console Class

Input and Output

The Console class provides methods to read input from the user and write output to the screen.

• Input: Read and ReadLine methods receive user input.
• Output: Write and WriteLine methods print messages to the console.

Text Formatting

• Colors: Change the text color with ForegroundColor and background color with BackgroundColor.
• Cursor: Adjust the cursor position for precise text placement.

Stream Redirection

• Input/Output Streams: Redirect the input or output streams to read from/write to files or other sources.

Practical Examples of Console Operations

Input and Output Example

using System;

public class ConsoleInputOutputExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Prompt the user for their name
        Console.Write("Enter your name: ");
        string name = Console.ReadLine();

        // Greet the user
        Console.WriteLine($"Hello, {name}!");

        // Prompt the user for their age
        Console.Write("Enter your age: ");
        int age = int.Parse(Console.ReadLine());

        // Display the entered age
        Console.WriteLine($"You are {age} years old.");
    }
}

Changing Text Colors

using System;

public class ConsoleColorsExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Set text color to Green
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Green;
        Console.WriteLine("This is green text!");

        // Set background color to Blue and text color to Yellow
        Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.Blue;
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Yellow;
        Console.WriteLine("Yellow text on a blue background!");

        // Reset colors to default
        Console.ResetColor();
        Console.WriteLine("Default colors restored.");
    }
}

Redirecting Input and Output Streams

using System;
using System.IO;

public class ConsoleRedirectExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Redirect the output stream to a file
        using (StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter("output.txt"))
        {
            Console.SetOut(writer);
            Console.WriteLine("This text is written to output.txt instead of the console.");
        }

        // Restore the original console output
        Console.SetOut(new StreamWriter(Console.OpenStandardOutput()) { AutoFlush = true });
    }
}

Conclusion

The Console class in C# is a versatile tool for reading user input, writing formatted output, and manipulating text styles. By leveraging its key features, you can build interactive applications and perform efficient logging or debugging.