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How to Resolve Error "CS0574: Name of destructor must match name of type" in C#

The Compiler Error CS0574 is a syntax error regarding Destructors (also known as Finalizers). The message reads: "Name of destructor must match name of type".

In C#, a destructor is a special method used to perform cleanup before an object is reclaimed by the Garbage Collector. The syntax for a destructor is a tilde ~ followed immediately by the class name. The rule is strict: The name after the tilde must exactly match the name of the class containing it.

This error occurs when you rename a class but forget to rename its destructor, or when you copy-paste code from one class to another without updating the name.

Understanding Destructor Syntax​

In C++, destructors are common. In C#, they are rare and technically called Finalizers.

The syntax is:

class MyClass
{
    // The Finalizer
    ~MyClass() 
    {
        // Cleanup unmanaged resources
    }
}

If the class is named MyClass, the finalizer must be named ~MyClass. It cannot be ~MyClass2, ~OtherClass, or ~myClass (lowercase).

Scenario 1: Renaming or Copy-Paste Errors​

The most common cause of CS0574 is refactoring. You rename a class using a simple "Find and Replace" or manual typing, but you miss the destructor definition.

Example of error​

Here, the class is named FileManager, but the destructor is still named ~FileHandler.

public class FileManager
{
    public FileManager()
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine("Created");
    }

    // ⛔️ Error CS0574: Name of destructor must match name of type.
    // The class is 'FileManager', but this looks like a destructor for 'FileHandler'.
    ~FileHandler()
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine("Destroyed");
    }
}

Solution: Rename to Match​

Update the destructor name to match the class exactly.

public class FileManager
{
    public FileManager()
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine("Created");
    }

    // ✅ Correct: The name matches the class.
    ~FileManager()
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine("Destroyed");
    }
}

Scenario 2: Case Sensitivity​

C# is a case-sensitive language. Logger and logger are different identifiers. The destructor name must match the casing of the class name exactly.

Example of error​

public class Logger
{
    // ⛔️ Error CS0574: Name of destructor must match name of type.
    // 'logger' (lowercase) does not match 'Logger' (uppercase).
    ~logger()
    {
        // ...
    }
}

Solution: Fix Casing​

public class Logger
{
    // ✅ Correct: Exact case match.
    ~Logger()
    {
        // ...
    }
}

Best Practice: Do You Need a Destructor?​

Before fixing this error, ask yourself: Do I actually need a destructor?

In modern C#, destructors (finalizers) are discouraged unless you are directly wrapping an unmanaged resource (like a raw C++ pointer, a file handle without a SafeHandle wrapper, or raw window handles).

If you are using a destructor just to clean up managed objects (like closing a database connection or clearing a list), you are doing it wrong. This can actually hurt performance.

Instead of a destructor, implement the IDisposable interface.

using System;

// ✅ Correct: Use IDisposable for standard cleanup
public class FileManager : IDisposable
{
    public void Dispose()
    {
        // Clean up resources here
        Console.WriteLine("Resources released");
    }
}
note

If you implement IDisposable, you usually don't need a destructor ~ClassName unless you are also holding unmanaged memory that needs to be freed if the developer forgets to call Dispose().

Conclusion​

CS0574 is a simple naming mismatch.

  1. Check the Class Name: Look at the class Name definition.
  2. Check the Tilde: Look at the ~Name method.
  3. Match Them: Ensure they are identical, including capitalization.
  4. Evaluate Necessity: Consider removing the destructor entirely in favor of IDisposable if you are not handling unmanaged code.

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