When to use C# out keyword on parameter - c#-4.0

Question

I've seen some developers use the out keyword on parameter lists of void functions. I'm quite unclear on what the pros and cons are of code below:
List<string> listOfResult;
public void public void (out listOfResult)
{
//bla bla
}
versus
public List<string> c(out listOfResult)
{
List<string> list= new List<string>();
//bla bla
return list;
}
Are these two code snippets perfectly valid or is there any catch around the out keyword?

Answer 1

out keyword is handy when you need to return more than one value from function. Nice example is TryXXX methods, which return status of operation instead of throwing exceptions:
public bool TryParse(string str, out int value);
But I don't see any reason to use single out parameter with void methods... Simply return that value from your method. It will be much easier to use. Compare:
List<string> list;
GetList(out list); // confusing method name
With
List<string> list = GetList(); // nice name, one line of code
If getting of list could throw exceptions, then you can create method like this:
List<string> list;
if (TryGetList(out list)) // better than exception handling
{
// list was filled successfully
}

Answer 2

out parameters are quite handy when you need to return more than one value from a function.
e.g.
Return is a list of results, but you can use an out parameter to return an error message in the case when the list being returned is null.

Answer 3

It's a nice syntax to return multiple parameters. I personally think it's almost always better to model the return of the method as a "new object/class".
That would be:
class CResult
{
List<string> firstResult;
List<string> secondResult;
}
public CResult c()
{
// do something
return new CResult() {firstResult = ..., secondResult = ... };
}
You can see more things related to this approach here.

Answer 4

//out key word is used in function instead of return. we can use multiple parameters by using out key word
public void outKeyword(out string Firstname, out string SecondName)
{
Firstname = "Muhammad";
SecondName = "Ismail";
}
//on button click Event
protected void btnOutKeyword_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string first, second;
outKeyword(out first, out second);
lblOutKeyword.Text = first + " " + second;
}