_CHAR_256 and _char_256 impl different

[Lightczx]

_CHAR_256 use raw CHAR fields, like _0,_1,_2,_3,_4,_5,_6,_7,_8,_9
while _char_256 use a fixed char array.
Should we unify this?

[AArnott]

No, these cannot be unified. CHAR is an 1-byte value whereas char is a UTF-16 value.

[Lightczx]

So why can't use array in _CHAR_256 then?
I'm still confused.

[AArnott]

These structures are not .NET arrays, which would be allocated on the heap. These structs store a 'fixed array' which means the content of the 'array' is actually inline in the struct itself. These fixed array structs do include some helper members in them (which vary based on your TargetFramework and C# language version) to help make them convenient to read and write though.

[Lightczx]

Maybe I didn't express it clearly.
I do know CHAR is one byte wide and char is two bytes wide.

I mean, can we use public unsafe fixed winmdroot.Foundation.CHAR[] Value[SpanLength] like in _char_256?

[AArnott]

No, because C# fixed arrays only allow a small set of primitive types.

[Lightczx]

I see, thanks for your explanation.