Type.IsGenericTypeDefinition Property (System)

IsGenericTypeDefinition Property

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This page is specific to

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/.NET Framework 2.0

Other versions are also available for the following:

.NET Framework Class Library

Type.IsGenericTypeDefinition Property

Note: This property is new in the .NET Framework version 2.0.

Gets a value indicating whether the current Type represents a generic type definition, from which other generic types can be constructed.

Namespace: System
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)

Public Overridable ReadOnly Property IsGenericTypeDefinition As Boolean

Visual Basic (Usage)

Dim instance As Type
Dim value As Boolean

value = instance.IsGenericTypeDefinition

public virtual bool IsGenericTypeDefinition { get; }

C++

public:
virtual property bool IsGenericTypeDefinition {
    bool get ();
}

/** @property */
public boolean get_IsGenericTypeDefinition ()

JScript

public function get IsGenericTypeDefinition () : boolean

Property Value

true if the Type object represents a generic type definition; otherwise, false.

Remarks

A generic type definition is a template from which other types can be constructed. For example, from the generic type definition G<T> (expressed in C# syntax; G(Of T) in Visual Basic or generic <typename T> ref class G in C++) you can construct and instantiate the type G<int> (G(Of Integer) in Visual Basic), by calling the MakeGenericType method with a generic argument list containing the Int32 type. Given a Type object representing this constructed type, the GetGenericTypeDefinition method gets the generic type definition back again.

Use the IsGenericTypeDefinition property to determine whether you can create new types from the current type. If the IsGenericTypeDefinition property returns true, you can call the MakeGenericType method to create new generic types.

For a list of the invariant conditions for terms used in generic reflection, see the IsGenericType property remarks.

Example

The following example displays information about a type, including whether or not it is a generic type definition. Information is displayed for a constructed type, for its generic type definition, and for an ordinary type.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic

Public Class Test
    Private Shared Sub DisplayGenericTypeInfo(ByVal t As Type) 
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & t.ToString())
        
        Console.WriteLine(vbTab & "Is this a generic type definition? " _
            & t.IsGenericTypeDefinition)
        
        Console.WriteLine(vbTab & "Is it a generic type? " _
            & t.IsGenericType)
        
        If t.IsGenericType Then
            ' If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
            '
            Dim typeArguments As Type() = t.GetGenericArguments()
            
            Console.WriteLine(vbTab & "List type arguments (" _
                & typeArguments.Length & "):")
            
            For Each tParam As Type In typeArguments
                ' If this is a type parameter, display its position.
                '
                If tParam.IsGenericParameter Then
                    Console.WriteLine(vbTab & vbTab & tParam.ToString() _
                        & vbTab & "(unassigned - parameter position " _
                        & tParam.GenericParameterPosition & ")")
                Else
                    Console.WriteLine(vbTab & vbTab & tParam.ToString())
                End If
            Next tParam
        End If
    
    End Sub 
    
    
    Public Shared Sub Main() 
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "--- Display information about a constructed type, its")
        Console.WriteLine("    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.")
        
        ' Create a Dictionary of Test objects, using strings for the
        ' keys.       
        Dim d As New Dictionary(Of String, Test)()

        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(d.GetType())
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(d.GetType().GetGenericTypeDefinition())
        
        ' Display information for an ordinary type.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(GetType(String))
    
    End Sub 'Main
End Class 'Test

' This example produces the following output:
'
'--- Display information about a constructed type, its
'    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.
'
'System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[System.String, Test]
'        Is this a generic type definition? False
'        Is it a generic type? True
'        List type arguments (2):
'                System.String
'                Test
'
'System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[TKey,TValue]
'        Is this a generic type definition? True
'        Is it a generic type? True
'        List type arguments (2):
'                TKey    (unassigned - parameter position 0)
'                TValue  (unassigned - parameter position 1)
'
'System.String
'        Is this a generic type definition? False
'        Is it a generic type? False

using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Test
{
    private static void DisplayGenericTypeInfo(Type t)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("\r\n{0}", t);

        Console.WriteLine("\tIs this a generic type definition? {0}", 
            t.IsGenericTypeDefinition);

        Console.WriteLine("\tIs it a generic type? {0}", 
            t.IsGenericType);

        if (t.IsGenericType)
        {
            // If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
            //
            Type[] typeArguments = t.GetGenericArguments();

            Console.WriteLine("\tList type arguments ({0}):", 
                typeArguments.Length);

            foreach (Type tParam in typeArguments)
            {
                // If this is a type parameter, display its
                // position.
                //
                if (tParam.IsGenericParameter)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("\t\t{0}\t(unassigned - parameter position {1})",
                        tParam,
                        tParam.GenericParameterPosition);
                }
                else
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("\t\t{0}", tParam);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("\r\n--- Display information about a constructed type, its");
        Console.WriteLine("    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.");

        // Create a Dictionary of Test objects, using strings for the
        // keys.       
        Dictionary<string, Test> d = new Dictionary<string, Test>();

        // Display information for the constructed type and its generic
        // type definition.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(d.GetType());
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(d.GetType().GetGenericTypeDefinition());

        // Display information for an ordinary type.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(typeof(string));
    }
}

/* This example produces the following output:

--- Display information about a constructed type, its
    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[System.String,Test]
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? True
        List type arguments (2):
                System.String
                Test

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[TKey,TValue]
        Is this a generic type definition? True
        Is it a generic type? True
        List type arguments (2):
                TKey    (unassigned - parameter position 0)
                TValue  (unassigned - parameter position 1)

System.String
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? False
 */

C++

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;

public ref class Test
{
private:
   static void DisplayGenericTypeInfo( Type^ t )
   {
      Console::WriteLine( L"\r\n{0}", t );
      Console::WriteLine( L"\tIs this a generic type definition? {0}",
         t->IsGenericTypeDefinition );
      Console::WriteLine( L"\tIs it a generic type? {0}",
         t->IsGenericType );
      
      if ( t->IsGenericType )
      {
         
         // If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
         //
         array<Type^>^typeArguments = t->GetGenericArguments();
         Console::WriteLine( L"\tList type arguments ({0}):",
            typeArguments->Length );
         System::Collections::IEnumerator^ myEnum =
            typeArguments->GetEnumerator();
         while ( myEnum->MoveNext() )
         {
            Type^ tParam = safe_cast<Type^>(myEnum->Current);
            
            // If this is a type parameter, display its
            // position.
            //
            if ( tParam->IsGenericParameter )
            {
               Console::WriteLine(
                  L"\t\t{0}\t(unassigned - parameter position {1})",
                  tParam, tParam->GenericParameterPosition );
            }
            else
            {
               Console::WriteLine( L"\t\t{0}", tParam );
            }
         }
      }
   }


public:
   static void Main()
   {
      Console::Write( L"\r\n--- Display information about a " );
      Console::WriteLine( L"constructed type, its" );
      Console::WriteLine( L"    generic type definition, and an ordinary type." );
      
      // Create a Dictionary of Test objects, using strings for the
      // keys.
      Dictionary< String^,Test^ >^ d = gcnew Dictionary< String^,Test^ >;
      
      // Display information for the constructed type and its generic
      // type definition.
      DisplayGenericTypeInfo( d->GetType() );
      DisplayGenericTypeInfo( d->GetType()->GetGenericTypeDefinition() );
      
      // Display information for an ordinary type.
      DisplayGenericTypeInfo( String::typeid );
   }

};

int main()
{
   Test::Main();
}

/* This example produces the following output:

--- Display information about a constructed type, its
    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[System.String,Test]
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? True
        List type arguments (2):
                System.String
                Test

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[TKey,TValue]
        Is this a generic type definition? True
        Is it a generic type? True
        List type arguments (2):
                TKey    (unassigned - parameter position 0)
                TValue  (unassigned - parameter position 1)

System.String
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? False
 */

import System.*;
import System.Reflection.*;
import System.Collections.Generic.*;

public class Test
{
    private static void DisplayGenericTypeInfo(Type t)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("\r\n{0}", t);
        Console.WriteLine("\tIs this a generic type definition? {0}",
            (System.Boolean)t.get_IsGenericTypeDefinition());
        Console.WriteLine("\tDoes it have generic arguments? {0}",
            (System.Boolean)t.get_IsGenericType());
        if (t.get_IsGenericType()) {
            // If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
            Type typeArguments[] = t.GetGenericArguments();
            Console.WriteLine("\tList type arguments ({0}):",
                (Int32)typeArguments.get_Length());
            for (int iCtr = 0; iCtr < typeArguments.get_Length(); iCtr++) {
                Type tParam = typeArguments[iCtr];
                // If this is a type parameter, display its
                // position.
                
                if (tParam.get_IsGenericParameter()) {
                    Console.WriteLine("\t\t{0}\t(unassigned - parameter "
                        + "position {1})", tParam, 
                        (Int32)tParam.get_GenericParameterPosition());
                }
                else {
                    Console.WriteLine("\t\t{0}", tParam);
                }
            }
        }
    } //DisplayGenericTypeInfo

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("\r\n--- Display information about a "
            + "constructed type, its");
        Console.WriteLine("    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.");
        // Create a Dictionary of Test objects, using strings for the
        // keys.       
        Dictionary<String,Test> d = new Dictionary<String,Test>();
        // Display information for the constructed type and its generic
        // type definition.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(d.GetType());
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(d.GetType().GetGenericTypeDefinition());
        // Display information for an ordinary type.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(String.class.ToType());
    } //main
} //Test

/* This example produces the following output:

--- Display information about a constructed type, its
    generic type definition, and an ordinary type.

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[System.String,Test]
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? True
        List type arguments (2):
                System.String
                Test

System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary[TKey,TValue]
        Is this a generic type definition? True
        Is it a generic type? True
        List type arguments (2):
                TKey    (unassigned - parameter position 0)
                TValue  (unassigned - parameter position 1)

System.String
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? False
 */

Platforms

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.

Version Information