So you want to learn C# programming? You’re here to find the best book on C# programming. This article is also an answer to hundreds of people asking for the best C# programming book.
Let me start with this. The “best” part of a book is very relative. It depends on who you’re and how much experience do you have. The best book may be different for a student than an experienced programmer. C# language part aside, C# combined with .NET is an ocean. It has hundreds of topics to cover. If you’re a Web developer who wants to use C# to do web development, the book will be different.
Note: The current version of C# is 6.0.
Free Books
But here is a list of beginners who wants to learn C# programming language from scratch and does have only basic understanding of programming. Good thing is, all these books are free PDFs that you can download and read anytime.
If you want to master C# language itself (just the language), I highly recommend downloading and reading C# Language Specification 5.0 which is free book provided by Microsoft and C# team. This book covers all the basics of C# language including syntaxes with code samples.
Paid Books
Once you have read the above free books, you may want to learn .NET Framework and how to build Windows and Web applications using C# language and .NET Framework.
Here is a list of my top 3 books available on Amazon.
Note: C# version 6.0 was released recently and these books are still in pre-order. If you need something right away, you may want to order the previous version of same book written using C# 5.0.
by Joseph Albahari and Ben Albahari
When you have a question about C# 6.0 or the .NET CLR, this bestselling guide has precisely the answers you need. Uniquely organized around concepts and use cases, this updated sixth edition includes completely revised and updated information on all the new C# 6.0 language features.
Shaped by expert reviewers, this book has all you need to stay on track with C# 6.0. It’s widely known as the definitive reference on the language.
- Get up to speed on C# language basics, including syntax, types, and variables
- Explore advanced topics such as unsafe code and type variance
- Dig deep into LINQ via three chapters dedicated to the topic
- Learn about code contracts, dynamic programming, and parallel programming
- Work with .NET features, including reflection, assemblies, memory management, security, I/O, XML, collections, networking, and native interoperability
by Lars Powers and Mike Snell
Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 empowers you to write next-generation applications for any modern environment: mobile, web, cloud, universal Windows 10/8.x, database, and beyond. This end-to-end deep dive will help working developers squeeze maximum productivity out of Microsoft’s powerful new toolset.
The authors combine authoritative and detailed information about Microsoft’s latest IDE, with extensive insights and best practices drawn from decades of development experience. Developers will quickly get comfortable with Visual Studio 2015’s updated interface, master its new capabilities, leverage its extensive new support for open standards, and discover multiple opportunities to leverage its .NET 4.6 platform and language improvements.
By focusing entirely on Visual Studio 2015 Professional, the authors go deeper into Microsoft’s core product than ever before. You’ll find expert coverage of everything from debugging through deploying to Azure, IDE extension and automation through cross-platform mobile development. Throughout, this book’s focus is relentlessly practical: how to apply Microsoft’s tools to build better software, faster.
Detailed information on how to...
- Master Visual Studio 2015’s updated interface and key tools: Solutions, Projects, Browsers, Explorers, Editors, and Designers to improve productivity
- Develop robust cross-platform mobile apps for Windows, iOS, and Android using Apache Cordova templates for Visual Studio
- Use the new ASP.NET 5 to build modern web solutions that run on Windows, Mac, or Linux
- Develop Single Page Applications (SPAs) based on HTML5 and rich client-side JavaScript frameworks such as Knockout, AngularJS, Bootstrap, and more
- Accelerate cloud development with the Azure SDK, QuickStart templates, and Azure management portal
- Create mobile service solutions using ASP.NET Web API and WCF
- Streamline data development across multiple platforms with Entity Framework 7
- Develop modern Microsoft Office business applications
- Perform robust, automated unit testing as you code, increasing your confidence in changes and refactoring
- Extend the VS 2015 IDE and Code Editor by creating custom, productivity-enhancing solutions
by Andrew Troelsen
This new edition of Pro C# 5.0 and the .NET 4.5 Platform has been completely revised and rewritten to reflect the latest changes to the C# language specification and new advances in the .NET Framework. You'll find new chapters covering all the important new features that make .NET 4.5 the most comprehensive release yet, including:
- .NET APIs for Windows 8 style UI apps
- New asynchronous task-based model for async operations
- How HTML5 support is being wrapped into C# web applications
- New programming interfaces for HTTP applications, including improved IPv6 support
- Expanded WPF, WCF and WF libraries giving C# more power than ever before
This comes on top of award winning coverage of core C# features, both old and new, that have made the previous editions of this book so popular (you'll find everything from generics to pLINQ covered here).
The mission of this text is to provide you with a rock-solid foundation in the C# programming language and the core aspects of the .NET platform (assemblies, remoting, Windows Forms, Web Forms, ADO.NET, XML web services, etc.). Once you digest the information presented in these 25 chapters, you’ll be in a perfect position to apply this knowledge to your specific programming assignments, and you’ll be well equipped to explore the .NET universe on your own terms.
What you’ll learn
- Be the first to understand the .NET 4.5 platform and Visual C# 2012.
- Discover the ins and outs of the leading .NET technology.
- Learn from an award-winning author who has been teaching the .NET world since version 1.0.
- Find complete coverage of XAML, .NET 4.5 and Visual Studio 12 together with discussion of the new Windows Runtime.
Who this book is for
If you’re checking out this book for the first time, do understand that it's targeted at experienced software professionals or graduate students of computer science (so don't expect three chapters on iteration or decision constructs!).
It is perfect for anyone who is interested in the new .NET Framework 4.5 and the C# language. Whether you are moving to .NET for the first time or are already writing applications using previous .NET versions, this book will provide you with a comprehensive grounding in the new technology and serve as a complete reference throughout your coding career.