C# base Keyword: Call Parent Class Member Method

In this tutorial, we'll demonstrate how to use the base keyword in C# to call a method from the parent class. The base keyword is used to access members of the base class from within a derived class.

Set up the environment

Create a new C# Console Application project in Visual Studio.

Create a base class

Create a base class named Animal with a method called Speak:

public class Animal
{
    public virtual void Speak()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("The animal makes a sound.");
    }
}

Note the use of the virtual keyword, which allows the Speak method to be overridden by a derived class.

Create a derived class

Create a derived class named Dog that inherits from the Animal class and overrides the Speak method:

public class Dog : Animal
{
    public override void Speak()
    {
        // Call the base class Speak method
        base.Speak();
        
        Console.WriteLine("The dog barks.");
    }
}

In the Speak method, use the base keyword to call the Speak method from the base class Animal.

Use the derived class

In the Main method, create an instance of the Dog class and call its Speak method:

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    Dog myDog = new Dog();
    myDog.Speak();
    
    Console.ReadLine();
}

When you run the Console Application, you should see the following output:

The animal makes a sound.
The dog barks.

In this tutorial, we've shown you how to use the base keyword in C# to call a method from the parent class. The base keyword allows you to access members of the base class from within a derived class, which can be helpful when you need to reuse or extend the functionality of the base class.

C# base keyword example:

Description: This example provides an introduction to the base keyword in C#, which is used to refer to the parent class or base class in an inheritance hierarchy.

Code:

class BaseClass
{
    public void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("This is the base class method.");
    }
}

class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public void Show()
    {
        // Using base keyword to call parent class method
        base.Display();
    }
}

Calling parent class method with base keyword in C#:

Description: Demonstrating how to call a method from the parent class within a derived class using the base keyword.

Code:

class BaseClass
{
    public void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("This is the base class method.");
    }
}

class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public void Show()
    {
        // Using base keyword to call parent class method
        base.Display();
    }
}

Calling constructor of base class in C# using base:

Description: This example shows how to call the constructor of the base class from the derived class using the base keyword.

Code:

class BaseClass
{
    public BaseClass()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Base class constructor called.");
    }
}

class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public DerivedClass() : base()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Derived class constructor called.");
    }
}

Override and call base method in C#:

Description: Illustrating how to override a method in a derived class and still call the base class method using the base keyword.

Code:

class BaseClass
{
    public virtual void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("This is the base class method.");
    }
}

class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
    public override void Display()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("This is the derived class method.");
        // Calling base class method
        base.Display();
    }
}