.net - Does C# inline properties?

Question

Does C# inline access to properties? I'm aware of the 32 byte (instruction?) limit on the JIT for inlining, but will it inline properties or just pure method calls?

Answer 1

It's up to the JIT (the C# compiler doesn't do any inlining as far as I'm aware), but I believe the JIT will inline trivial properties in most cases.

Note that it won't inline members of types deriving from MarshalByRefObject which includes System.Windows.Forms.Control (via System.ComponentModel.Component).

I've also seen double fields end up being less efficient when accessed via properties - it could be that there are some subtleties around that (due to register use etc).

Also note that the 64-bit and 32-bit JITs are different, including their treatment of what gets inlined.

EDIT: I've just found a 2004 blog entry by David Notario with some more information. However, that was before 2.0 shipped - I wouldn't be surprised to see that at least some of it had changed now. Might be of interest anyway.

EDIT: Another question referred to a 2008 Vance Morrison blog entry which gives more information. Interesting stuff.