Can the C# using statement be written without the curly braces?

Question

I was browsing a coworkers c# code today and found the following:

    using (MemoryStream data1 = new MemoryStream())
    using (MemoryStream data2 = new MemoryStream())
    {
        // Lots of code..........
     }

I had always seen the using statement followed by a pair of curly braces that defined the scope of the object life. My coworker who wrote the code said that the curly braces for the data1 using statement weren't needed and the code did the same thing as if they were present and nested the data2 using statement. So, what happens when the curly braces are ommitted?

user_5954805 · Answer

From C# 8 you can also use this syntax without any braces:

using var foo = new Foo();
var bar = foo.Bar();

foo will then be disposed at end of its scope (usually at the end of a method) - so be mindful where & when to use.

Reference - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/keywords/using-statement#example

user_6179327 · Answer

As people have said: given there only being one line following a statement it will work without the curled braces. However, people are neglecting to show in their examples that that one line can be an if/using/for with it's own curled braces. Here is an example:

if(foo)
  if(bar)
  {
     doStuff();
  }

Can the C# using statement be written without the curly braces?

8 Answers