<?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>