Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) Certification Practice Test

What is the return type when utilizing an anonymous type in C#?

1. Explicit class type.

2. var.

3. object.

4. dynamic.

The correct answer is: var.

When utilizing an anonymous type in C#, the return type is `var`. This is because an anonymous type does not have a specific type name that can be referenced outside of its scope. Instead, the compiler infers the type of the anonymous type when it is created, allowing the variable to be declared using `var`. Using `var` enables you to work with the anonymous type without needing to define a named class for it. Anonymous types are particularly useful for creating a simple data structure on-the-fly, especially when you want to group several properties together without the overhead of defining a full class. Other options like explicit class type, object, or dynamic do not align with how anonymous types are intended to be used. Explicit class types necessitate a defined structure, while objects are a general type that wouldn't inherently convey the specific groupings of properties in an anonymous type. The dynamic type allows for more flexibility, but does not benefit from the static typing capabilities that `var` provides when dealing with anonymous types. This distinction emphasizes the purpose of `var` in the C# language.