What is the function of CTS?

Answer 1

The Common Type System (CTS) defines how types are declared, used, and managed in the runtime. It is an important for Language Interoperability.

The CTS performs the following functions:

l Establishes a common framework that enables cross-language integration, type safety, and high performance code execution.

l Provides an object-oriented model.

l Defines rules that languages must follow, so that different languages can interact with each

other.

Classification of types

The CTS supports two categories:

1. Value types

2. Reference types

The following diagram illustrates type classification described in above paragraphs.

Figure 1.11 : Type Classification

Value types directly stores data in the variable. Value types can be built-in type, user-defined types, or enumerations.

Reference types store a reference to the data's memory address. Reference types can be selfdescribing types, pointer types, or interface types. Self-describing types are further split into arrays and class types. The class types are user-defined classes, boxed value types, and delegates.