Type.AssemblyQualifiedName Property

Definition

Gets the assembly-qualified name of the type, which includes the name of the assembly from which this Type object was loaded.

public:
 abstract property System::String ^ AssemblyQualifiedName { System::String ^ get(); };
public abstract string AssemblyQualifiedName { get; }
public abstract string? AssemblyQualifiedName { get; }
member this.AssemblyQualifiedName : string
Public MustOverride ReadOnly Property AssemblyQualifiedName As String

Property Value

The assembly-qualified name of the Type, which includes the name of the assembly from which the Type was loaded, or null if the current instance represents a generic type parameter.

Implements

Examples

The following example displays the assembly name associated with the class and the fully qualified name of the type.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;
int main()
{
   Type^ objType = System::Array::typeid;
   
   // Print the full assembly name.
   Console::WriteLine( "Full assembly name: {0}.", objType->Assembly->FullName );
   
   // Print the qualified assembly name.
   Console::WriteLine( "Qualified assembly name: {0}.", objType->AssemblyQualifiedName );
}
// The example displays the following output if run under the .NET Framework 4.5:
//    Full assembly name:
//       mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
//    Qualified assembly name:
//       System.Array, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
using System;

class MyAssemblyClass
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Type objType = typeof(Array);

        // Print the assembly full name.
        Console.WriteLine($"Assembly full name:\n   {objType.Assembly.FullName}.");

        // Print the assembly qualified name.
        Console.WriteLine($"Assembly qualified name:\n   {objType.AssemblyQualifiedName}.");
    }
}
// The example displays the following output if run under the .NET Framework 4.5:
//    Assembly full name:
//       mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
//    Assembly qualified name:
//       System.Array, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
open System

let objType = typeof<Array>

// Print the assembly full name.
printfn $"Assembly full name:\n   {objType.Assembly.FullName}."

// Print the assembly qualified name.
printfn $"Assembly qualified name:\n   {objType.AssemblyQualifiedName}."
// The example displays the following output if run under the .NET Framework 4.5:
//    Assembly full name:
//       mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
//    Assembly qualified name:
//       System.Array, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
Class Example
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        Dim objType As Type = GetType(Array)

        ' Display the assembly full name.
        Console.WriteLine($"Assembly full name:{vbCrLf}   {objType.Assembly.FullName}.")

        ' Display the assembly qualified name.
        Console.WriteLine($"Assembly qualified name:{vbCrLf}   {objType.AssemblyQualifiedName}.")
    End Sub
End Class
' The example displays the following output if run under the .NET Framework 4.5:
'    Assembly full name:
'       mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.
'    Assembly qualified name:
'       System.Array, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089.

The following example compares the strings returned by the ToString method and the Name, FullName, and AssemblyQualifiedName properties.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Type t = typeof(String);
        ShowTypeInfo(t);

        t = typeof(List<>);
        ShowTypeInfo(t);

        var list = new List<String>();
        t = list.GetType();
        ShowTypeInfo(t);

        Object v = 12;
        t = v.GetType();
        ShowTypeInfo(t);

        t = typeof(IFormatProvider);
        ShowTypeInfo(t);

        IFormatProvider ifmt = NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo;
        t = ifmt.GetType();
        ShowTypeInfo(t);
    }

    private static void ShowTypeInfo(Type t)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Name: {t.Name}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Full Name: {t.FullName}");
        Console.WriteLine($"ToString:  {t}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Assembly Qualified Name: {t.AssemblyQualifiedName}");
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
}
// The example displays output like the following:
//    Name: String
//    Full Name: System.String
//    ToString:  System.String
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.String, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutr
//    al, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: List`1
//    Full Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1
//    ToString:  System.Collections.Generic.List`1[T]
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1, mscorlib, Version=4.
//    0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: List`1
//    Full Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscorlib, Version=4
//    .0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]
//    ToString:  System.Collections.Generic.List`1[System.String]
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscor
//    lib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]], mscorl
//    ib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: Int32
//    Full Name: System.Int32
//    ToString:  System.Int32
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Int32, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutra
//    l, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: IFormatProvider
//    Full Name: System.IFormatProvider
//    ToString:  System.IFormatProvider
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.IFormatProvider, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Cult
//    ure=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: NumberFormatInfo
//    Full Name: System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo
//    ToString:  System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo, mscorlib, Versio
//    n=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
open System
open System.Globalization

let showTypeInfo (t: Type) =
    printfn $"Name: {t.Name}"
    printfn $"Full Name: {t.FullName}"
    printfn $"ToString:  {t}"
    printfn $"Assembly Qualified Name: {t.AssemblyQualifiedName}\n"

typeof<String>
|> showTypeInfo

(typeof<ResizeArray<_>>).GetGenericTypeDefinition()
|> showTypeInfo

let list = ResizeArray<String>()
list.GetType()
|> showTypeInfo

let v: obj = 12
v.GetType()
|> showTypeInfo

typeof<IFormatProvider>
|> showTypeInfo

let ifmt = NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo
ifmt.GetType()
|> showTypeInfo

let o = Some 3
o.GetType()
|> showTypeInfo

// The example displays output like the following:
//    Name: String
//    Full Name: System.String
//    ToString:  System.String
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.String, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutr
//    al, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: List`1
//    Full Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1
//    ToString:  System.Collections.Generic.List`1[T]
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1, mscorlib, Version=4.
//    0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: List`1
//    Full Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscorlib, Version=4
//    .0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]
//    ToString:  System.Collections.Generic.List`1[System.String]
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscor
//    lib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]], mscorl
//    ib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: Int32
//    Full Name: System.Int32
//    ToString:  System.Int32
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Int32, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutra
//    l, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: IFormatProvider
//    Full Name: System.IFormatProvider
//    ToString:  System.IFormatProvider
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.IFormatProvider, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Cult
//    ure=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: NumberFormatInfo
//    Full Name: System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo
//    ToString:  System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo
//    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo, mscorlib, Versio
//    n=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
//
//    Name: FSharpOption`1
//    Full Name: Microsoft.FSharp.Core.FSharpOption`1[[System.Int32, System.Private.CoreLib, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=7cec85d7bea7798e]]
//    ToString:  Microsoft.FSharp.Core.FSharpOption`1[System.Int32]
//    Assembly Qualified Name: Microsoft.FSharp.Core.FSharpOption`1[[System.Int32, System.Private.CoreLib, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=7cec85d7bea7798e]], FSharp.Core, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Globalization

Module Example
    Public Sub Main()
        Dim t As Type = GetType(String)
        ShowTypeInfo(t)

        t = GetType(List(Of))
        ShowTypeInfo(t)

        Dim list As New List(Of String)()
        t = list.GetType()
        ShowTypeInfo(t)

        Dim v As Object = 12
        t = v.GetType()
        ShowTypeInfo(t)

        t = GetType(IFormatProvider)
        ShowTypeInfo(t)

        Dim ifmt As IFormatProvider = NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo
        t = ifmt.GetType()
        ShowTypeInfo(t)
    End Sub

    Private Sub ShowTypeInfo(t As Type)
        Console.WriteLine($"Name: {t.Name}")
        Console.WriteLine($"Full Name: {t.FullName}")
        Console.WriteLine($"ToString:  {t}")
        Console.WriteLine($"Assembly Qualified Name: {t.AssemblyQualifiedName}")
        Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub
End Module
' The example displays output like the following:
'    Name: String
'    Full Name: System.String
'    ToString:  System.String
'    Assembly Qualified Name: System.String, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutr
'    al, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
'
'    Name: List`1
'    Full Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1
'    ToString:  System.Collections.Generic.List`1[T]
'    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1, mscorlib, Version=4.
'    0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
'
'    Name: List`1
'    Full Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscorlib, Version=4
'    .0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]
'    ToString:  System.Collections.Generic.List`1[System.String]
'    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscor
'    lib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]], mscorl
'    ib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
'
'    Name: Int32
'    Full Name: System.Int32
'    ToString:  System.Int32
'    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Int32, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutra
'    l, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
'
'    Name: IFormatProvider
'    Full Name: System.IFormatProvider
'    ToString:  System.IFormatProvider
'    Assembly Qualified Name: System.IFormatProvider, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Cult
'    ure=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
'
'    Name: NumberFormatInfo
'    Full Name: System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo
'    ToString:  System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo
'    Assembly Qualified Name: System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo, mscorlib, Versio
'    n=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089

Remarks

The assembly-qualified name of a type consists of the type name, including its namespace, followed by a comma, followed by the display name of the assembly. The display name of an assembly is obtained using the Assembly.FullName property.

Note

Processor architecture is part of assembly identity, and can be specified as part of assembly name strings. For example, "ProcessorArchitecture=msil". However, it's not included in the string returned by the AssemblyQualifiedName property, for compatibility reasons. See AssemblyName.ProcessorArchitecture.

All compilers that support the common language runtime emit the simple name of a nested class, and reflection constructs a mangled name when queried, in accordance with the following conventions.

Delimiter Meaning
Backslash (\) Escape character.
Comma (,) Precedes the Assembly name.
Plus sign (+) Precedes a nested class.
Period (.) Denotes namespace identifiers.
Brackets ([]) After a type name, denotes an array of that type.

-or-

For a generic type, encloses the generic type argument list.

-or-

Within a type argument list, encloses an assembly-qualified type.

For example, the assembly-qualified name for a class might look like this:

TopNamespace.SubNameSpace.ContainingClass+NestedClass, MyAssembly, Version=1.3.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b17a5c561934e089

If the namespace contained a plus sign, for example TopNamespace.Sub+Namespace, then the plus sign (+) would be preceded by an escape character (\) to prevent it from being interpreted as a nesting separator. Reflection would emit this string as follows:

TopNamespace.Sub\+Namespace.ContainingClass+NestedClass, MyAssembly, Version=1.3.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b17a5c561934e089

A "++" becomes "\+\+", and a "\" becomes "\\".

This qualified name can be persisted and later used to load the Type. To search for and load a Type, use GetType either with the type name only or with the assembly qualified type name. GetType with the type name only will look for the Type in the caller's assembly and then in the System assembly. GetType with the assembly qualified type name will look for the Type in any assembly.

Type names may include trailing characters that denote additional information about the type, such as whether the type is a reference type, a pointer type or an array type. To retrieve the type name without these trailing characters, use t.GetElementType().ToString(), where t is the type.

Spaces are relevant in all type name components except the assembly name. In the assembly name, spaces before the ',' separator are relevant, but spaces after the ',' separator are ignored.

Generic arguments of generic types are themselves qualified by assembly name. For example, in the assembly-qualified type name for MyGenericClass<int> (MyGenericClass(Of Integer) in Visual Basic), int is expanded to the assembly-qualified type name for Int32.

If the current Type object represents a generic parameter, this property returns null.

Applies to

See also