C# Language Specification

Instance variables

A field declared without the static modifier is called an instance variable.

1. Instance variables in classes

An instance variable of a class comes into existence when a new instance of that class is created, and ceases to exist when there are no references to that instance and the instance’s destructor (if any) has executed.

The initial value of an instance variable of a class is the default value (§5.2) of the variable’s type.

For the purpose of definite assignment checking, an instance variable of a class is considered initially assigned.

2.