Partial classes provide an ability to split class declaration (usually into separate files). A common problem that can be solved with partial classes is allowing users to modify auto-generated code without fearing that their changes will be overwritten if the code is regenerated. Also multiple developers can work on same class or methods.

using System;

namespace PartialClassAndMethods
{
    public partial class PartialClass
    {
        public void ExampleMethod() {
            Console.WriteLine("Method call from the first declaration.");
        }
    }

    public partial class PartialClass
    {
        public void AnotherExampleMethod()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Method call from the second declaration.");
        }
    }

    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            PartialClass partial = new PartialClass();
            partial.ExampleMethod(); // outputs "Method call from the first declaration."
            partial.AnotherExampleMethod(); // outputs "Method call from the second declaration."
        }
    }
}

Partial method consists of the definition in one partial class declaration (as a common scenario - in the auto-generated one) and the implementation in another partial class declaration.

using System;

namespace PartialClassAndMethods
{
    public partial class PartialClass // Auto-generated
    {
        partial void PartialMethod();
    }

    public partial class PartialClass // Human-written
    {
        public void PartialMethod()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Partial method called.");
        }
    }

    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            PartialClass partial = new PartialClass();
            partial.PartialMethod(); // outputs "Partial method called."
        }
    }
}

When inheriting from any base class, only one partial class needs to have the base class specified.

// PartialClass1.cs
public partial class PartialClass : BaseClass {}

// PartialClass2.cs
public partial class PartialClass {}

You can specify the same base class in more than one partial class. It will get flagged as redundant by some IDE tools, but it does compile correctly.

// PartialClass1.cs
public partial class PartialClass : BaseClass {}

// PartialClass2.cs
public partial class PartialClass : BaseClass {} // base class here is redundant

You cannot specify different base classes in multiple partial classes, it will result in a compiler error.

// PartialClass1.cs
public partial class PartialClass : BaseClass {} // compiler error

// PartialClass2.cs
public partial class PartialClass : OtherBaseClass {} // compiler error