Where are static variables stored: on the heap or stack in .Net C#?

In .NET C#, static variables are stored in a memory region called the "High Frequency Heap" or "High-Frequency Heap" (HFH), which is a part of the managed heap. They are not stored on the stack.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Stack:

   • The stack is used for storing method call frames and local variables within those frames.
   • Local variables within methods, parameters, and method call information are stored on the stack.
   • The stack is a fast memory allocation mechanism, and it follows a last-in, first-out (LIFO) structure.

2. Heap:

   • The heap is used for dynamic memory allocation.
   • Objects, arrays, and dynamically allocated memory are stored on the heap.
   • Memory on the heap is managed by the garbage collector, and it's less efficient than stack memory due to garbage collection overhead.

Static variables in .NET C# are associated with the type itself rather than with instances of the type. They exist for the entire lifetime of the application domain. When a type containing static variables is loaded, memory is allocated for those static variables in the High Frequency Heap, which is part of the managed heap.

Since static variables are associated with the type itself and not with individual instances of the type, they are not stored on the stack. Instead, they are stored in a location (the High Frequency Heap) that allows them to be shared among all instances of the type and accessed without requiring an instance of the type to be created.