dotnet-csharp-coding-standards

name	dotnet-csharp-coding-standards
description	Defines baseline C# conventions loaded first -- naming, file layout, style rules.
metadata	{"short-description":".NET skill guidance for csharp tasks"}

dotnet-csharp-coding-standards

Modern .NET coding standards based on Microsoft Framework Design Guidelines and C# Coding Conventions. This skill covers naming, file organization, and code style rules that agents should follow when generating or reviewing C# code.

Activation Guidance

Load this skill by default for any task that plans, designs, generates, modifies, or reviews C#/.NET code. Do not wait for explicit user wording such as "coding standards", "style", or "conventions". If code will be produced, this skill should be active before implementation starts. This skill is a baseline dependency that should be loaded before domain-specific C#/.NET skills.

Cross-references: [skill:dotnet-csharp-modern-patterns] for language feature usage, [skill:dotnet-csharp-async-patterns] for async naming conventions, [skill:dotnet-solid-principles] for SOLID, DRY, and SRP design principles at the class and interface level.

Scope

• Naming conventions (PascalCase, camelCase, I-prefix for interfaces)
• File organization and namespace conventions
• Code style rules (expression bodies, using directives, var usage)
• EditorConfig integration for style enforcement

Out of scope

• Language feature patterns (records, pattern matching) -- see [skill:dotnet-csharp-modern-patterns]
• Async naming and await conventions -- see [skill:dotnet-csharp-async-patterns]
• SOLID/DRY design principles -- see [skill:dotnet-solid-principles]
• Code smells and anti-patterns -- see [skill:dotnet-csharp-code-smells]

---

Naming Conventions

General Rules

Element	Convention	Example
Namespaces	PascalCase, dot-separated	MyCompany.MyProduct.Core
Classes, Records, Structs	PascalCase	OrderService, OrderSummary
Interfaces	I + PascalCase	IOrderRepository
Methods	PascalCase	GetOrderAsync
Properties	PascalCase	OrderDate
Events	PascalCase	OrderCompleted
Public constants	PascalCase	MaxRetryCount
Private fields	_camelCase	_orderRepository
Parameters, locals	camelCase	orderId, totalAmount
Type parameters	T or T + PascalCase	T, TKey, TValue
Enum members	PascalCase	OrderStatus.Pending

Async Method Naming

Suffix async methods with Async:

// Correct
public Task<Order> GetOrderAsync(int id);
public ValueTask SaveChangesAsync(CancellationToken ct);

// Wrong
public Task<Order> GetOrder(int id);      // missing Async suffix
public Task<Order> GetOrderTask(int id);  // wrong suffix

```text

Exception: Event handlers and interface implementations where the framework does not use the `Async` suffix (e.g.,
ASP.NET Core middleware `InvokeAsync` is already named by the framework).

### Boolean Naming

Prefix booleans with `is`, `has`, `can`, `should`, or similar:

```

   { ; ; }
  HasOrders { ; }
;

```csharp



Use plural nouns  collections:

```csharp

 IReadOnlyList<Order> Orders { ; }    
 Dictionary<, > CountsByName { ; } 

```csharp

---





Each top-;

   { }


 
{
       { }
}

```text



Place `` directives at the top of the , outside the . With `<ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>`
(  modern .NET), common namespaces are already imported. Only   `` statements  namespaces
 covered   usings.

Order of `` directives:

 `System.*` namespaces
 Third-party namespaces
 Project namespaces



Organize  feature  layer, matching  :

```

//
  /
    /
      
      
      
    /
      
  /
    /
      

```

---

##  

### 

     ,   - :

```


 ()
{
    Process(order);
}


 (order.IsValid)
    Process(order);

```text



Use expression bodies  single-expression members:

```csharp


  FullName => ;


 => ;



```text



Use ``  the type  obvious  the right-hand side:

```csharp


 orders =  List<Order>();
 customer = GetCustomerById(id);
 name = ;


IOrderRepository repo = serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IOrderRepository>();
 total = CalculateTotal(items);

```text



Prefer pattern matching over  checks:

```csharp


 (order   ) { }
 (order  { Status: OrderStatus.Active }) { }


 (order != ) { }


 (order  ) { }
 (!(order  )) { }

```text

Use -conditional  -coalescing operators:

```csharp

 name = customer?.Name ?? ;
 orders = customer?.Orders ?? [];
items ??= [];

```csharp



Prefer  interpolation over concatenation  `.Format`:

```csharp


 message = ;


 json = $idname{{name}};


 message = .Format(, orderId, total);
 message =  + orderId +  + total.ToString();

```text

---



Always specify access modifiers explicitly. Do  rely  defaults:

```csharp


  
{
      IOrderRepository _repo;
     { }
}


 
{
     IOrderRepository _repo;
}

```text



Follow the standard order:

``` = ;
 =>  repo.GetDefaultAsync();
 => Name;

```csharp

---



These conventions implement SOLID  DRY principles at the code level. For comprehensive coverage  anti-patterns
 fixes, see [skill:dotnet-solid-principles].



Seal classes that are  designed  inheritance. 
{
    
}

```text

Only leave classes unsealed  you explicitly design them   classes.



```csharp



{
    
    {
         validator.ValidateAsync(order);
         notifier.NotifyAsync(order);
    }
}


   { }
   :  { }
   :  { }

```text



Keep interfaces focused. Prefer multiple small interfaces over one large one:

```csharp


  
{
    Task<Order?> GetByIdAsync( id, CancellationToken ct = );
    Task<IReadOnlyList<Order>> GetAllAsync(CancellationToken ct = );
}

  
{
    ;
    ;
}


   : ,  { }

```text

---



Accept `CancellationToken`  the last parameter   methods. Use ``  the    optional
tokens:

```
{
      _repo.GetByIdAsync(id, ct);
}

```text

Always forward the token to downstream  calls. Never ignore a received `CancellationToken`.

---



Add XML docs to  API surfaces. Keep them concise:

```csharp







 Task<Order?> GetByIdAsync( id, CancellationToken ct = );

```text

Do   XML docs to:

-  = file_scoped:warning
csharp_prefer_braces = :warning
csharp_style_var_for_built_in_types = :suggestion
csharp_style_var_when_type_is_apparent = :suggestion
dotnet_style_require_accessibility_modifiers = always:warning
csharp_style_prefer_pattern_matching = :suggestion

```csharp

See [skill:dotnet--analyzers]  full analyzer configuration.

---



Conventions   skill are grounded  publicly available content :

- **Microsoft Framework Design Guidelines** -- The canonical reference  .NET naming, type design,  API surface
  conventions. Source: https:
- **C
  coding standards. Key decisions relevant to  skill: -