A new keyword field references the synthesized backing field of an auto property. This is useful when you need to access the backing field directly, for example, when you want to implement custom logic in the getter or setter of a property.

WARNING

The field keyword is a preview feature in C# 13 and requires <LangVersion>preview</LangVersion>. It becomes generally available in C# 14.0.

Code

Now

class Post
{
    public string Title
    {
        get;
        set => field = !String.IsNullOrEmpty(value)
                            ? value
                            : throw new ArgumentException("Must not be empty.", nameof(value));
    }
}

Before

class Post
{
    private string title;
    public string Title
    {
        get => title;
        set => title = !String.IsNullOrEmpty(value)
                            ? value
                            : throw new ArgumentException("Must not be empty.", nameof(value));
    }
}

WARNING

If you have a field named field in your class, you must access the backing field of an auto property by using @field instead.

More information

• What's new in C# 13.0
• C# Language Reference
• Proposal