Working with Multiline Strings in C#

In C#, working with multiline strings is a common requirement, especially when dealing with SQL queries, XML, or other types of text data. By default, string literals in C# are limited to a single line, but there are several ways to create multiline strings.

Verbatim String Literals

One way to create a multiline string is by using the @ symbol before the string literal. This tells the compiler to treat the string as a verbatim string literal, which allows it to span multiple lines.

string query = @"SELECT foo, bar
FROM table
WHERE id = 42";

Verbatim string literals also turn off escaping, except for double quotes. For example:

string quote = @"Jon said, ""This will work,"" - and it did!";

Note that verbatim string literals include line breaks in the resulting string.

Interpolated Strings

With C# 6.0 and later, you can combine interpolated strings with verbatim string literals using the $ symbol.

string camlCondition = $@"
<Where>
    <Contains>
        <FieldRef Name='Resource'/>
        <Value Type='Text'>{(string)parameter}</Value>
    </Contains>
</Where>";

This allows you to embed expressions inside the string.

String.Join

Another approach is to use String.Join to concatenate multiple strings with a separator, such as Environment.NewLine.

var someString = String.Join(
    Environment.NewLine,
    "The",
    "quick",
    "brown",
    "fox...");

This method provides more flexibility and can be used to create multiline strings without relying on verbatim string literals.

Best Practices

When working with multiline strings, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Use verbatim string literals when you need to include line breaks or special characters.
• Use String.Join when you want to concatenate multiple strings with a separator.
• Be aware of escaping requirements when using string literals in string.Format.
• Consider using interpolated strings for more readable and concise code.

By following these guidelines, you can work effectively with multiline strings in C# and create more maintainable and efficient code.