<?xml version="1.0"?> <clause number="12.1" title="Variable categories"> <paragraph>C# defines seven categories of variables: static variables, instance variables, array elements, value parameters, reference parameters, output parameters, and local variables. The sections that follow describe each of these categories. </paragraph> <paragraph> <example>[Example: In the example <code_example><![CDATA[ class A { public static int x; int y; void F(int[] v, int a, ref int b, out int c) { int i = 1; c = a + b++; } } ]]></code_example>x is a static variable, y is an instance variable, v[0] is an array element, a is a value parameter, b is a reference parameter, c is an output parameter, and i is a local variable. end example]</example> </paragraph> </clause>