theory - "const correctness" in C#

Question

The point of const-correctness is to be able to provide a view of an instance that can't be altered or deleted by the user. The compiler supports this by pointing out when you break constness from within a const function, or try to use a non-const function of a const object. So without copying the const approach, is there a methodology I can use in C# that has the same ends?

I'm aware of immutability, but that doesn't really carry over to container objects to name but one example.

Answer 1

I've come across this issue a lot of times too and ended up using interfaces.

I think it's important to drop the idea that C# is any form, or even an evolution of C++. They're two different languages that share almost the same syntax.

I usually express 'const correctness' in C# by defining a read-only view of a class:

public interface IReadOnlyCustomer
{
    String Name { get; }
    int Age { get; }
}

public class Customer : IReadOnlyCustomer
{
    private string m_name;
    private int m_age;

    public string Name
    {
        get { return m_name; }
        set { m_name = value; }
    }

    public int Age
    {
        get { return m_age; }
        set { m_age = value; }
    }
}