A parameter declared with a ref modifier is a reference parameter. A reference parameter does not create a new storage location. Instead, a reference parameter represents the same storage location as the variable given as the argument in the function member invocation. Thus, the value of a reference parameter is always the same as the underlying variable. The following definite assignment rules apply to reference parameters. [Note: The rules for output parameters are different, and are described in 12.1.6. end note] A variable must be definitely assigned (12.3) before it can be passed as a reference parameter in a function member invocation. Within a function member, a reference parameter is considered initially assigned. Within an instance method or instance accessor of a struct type, the this keyword behaves exactly as a reference parameter of the struct type (14.5.7).