Initialization Order of Static Fields in Static Class

Question

given the following code:

public static class Helpers
{
   private static Char[] myChars = new Char[] {'a', 'b'};

   private static Int32 myCharsSize = myChars.Length;
}

Is it guaranteed that myChars will be initialized before I use its length to assign to myCharsSize?

Answer 1

Yes, they will, please see clause 15.5.6.2 of the C# specification:

The static field variable initializers of a class correspond to a sequence of assignments that are executed in the textual order in which they appear in the class declaration (§15.5.6.1). Within a partial class, the meaning of "textual order" is specified by §15.5.6.1. If a static constructor (§15.12) exists in the class, execution of the static field initializers occurs immediately prior to executing that static constructor. Otherwise, the static field initializers are executed at an implementation-dependent time prior to the first use of a static field of that class.

That being said I think it would be better to do the initialization inside a static type initializer (static constructor).