---
title: "Common Type System (CTS)"  
description: "The Common Type System (CTS) defines how types are declared, used, and managed in the runtime.  It is an important for Language Interoperability.The C"  
author: "Amit Singh"  
published: 2011-02-11  
updated: 2014-09-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/113/common-type-system-cts  
category: ".net"  
tags: [".net"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Common Type System (CTS)

The Common Type System (CTS) defines how types are declared, used, and managed in the runtime.\

It is an important for [Language](https://www.mindstick.com/startup/28/preply-the-fast-growing-platform-transforming-language-learning) Interoperability.

##### The CTS performs the following functions:

\

· Establishes a common [framework](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34615/software-framework-vs-library) that enables cross-language [integration](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88515/common-mistakes-in-computer-integration-to-avoid), type safety, and high performance [code execution](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160098/explain-the-difference-between-synchronous-and-asynchronous-code-execution-in-javascript).

· Provides an object-oriented model.

· Defines rules that [languages](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/1463/some-oldest-languages-in-the-world-still-spoken) must follow, so that different languages can interact with each other.

\

##### Classification of types

The CTS [supports](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/12043/how-to-create-a-killer-mobile-app-that-supports-your-brand) two [categories](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/47601/what-are-the-categories-of-stations-for-provision-of-passenger-amenities-explain-them):

1. Value types

2. [Reference](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/774/reference-what-does-this-error-mean-in-php) types

\

**Value types** directly stores data in the variable. Value types can be built-in type, user-defined types, or enumerations.

**Reference types** store a reference to the data’s memory address. Reference types can be self describing types, [pointer](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/11/pointers) types, or [interface](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12101/interfaces-in-java-extending-interfaces) types. Self-describing types are further split into arrays and class types. The class types are user-defined classes, boxed value types, and delegates.

All types derive from the System.Object base type.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/113/common-type-system-cts

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.