ObsoleteAttribute Class

Definition

Namespace:

System

Assembly:

System.Runtime.dll

Source:

ObsoleteAttribute.cs

Marks the program elements that are no longer in use. This class cannot be inherited.

public ref class ObsoleteAttribute sealed : Attribute

[System.AttributeUsage(System.AttributeTargets.Class | System.AttributeTargets.Constructor | System.AttributeTargets.Delegate | System.AttributeTargets.Enum | System.AttributeTargets.Event | System.AttributeTargets.Field | System.AttributeTargets.Interface | System.AttributeTargets.Method | System.AttributeTargets.Property | System.AttributeTargets.Struct, Inherited=false)]
public sealed class ObsoleteAttribute : Attribute

[<System.AttributeUsage(System.AttributeTargets.Class | System.AttributeTargets.Constructor | System.AttributeTargets.Delegate | System.AttributeTargets.Enum | System.AttributeTargets.Event | System.AttributeTargets.Field | System.AttributeTargets.Interface | System.AttributeTargets.Method | System.AttributeTargets.Property | System.AttributeTargets.Struct, Inherited=false)>]
type ObsoleteAttribute = class
    inherit Attribute

Public NotInheritable Class ObsoleteAttribute
Inherits Attribute

Inheritance

Object

Attribute

ObsoleteAttribute

Attributes

AttributeUsageAttribute

Examples

The following example defines a class that contains a property and a method that are marked with the ObsoleteAttribute attribute. Accessing the value of the OldProperty property in code generates a compiler warning, but calling the CallOldMethod method generates a compiler error. The example also shows the output that results when you attempt to compile the source code.

using System;
using System.Reflection;

public class Example
{
   // Mark OldProperty As Obsolete.
   [ObsoleteAttribute("This property is obsolete. Use NewProperty instead.", false)]
   public static string OldProperty
   { get { return "The old property value."; } }

   public static string NewProperty
   { get { return "The new property value."; } }

   // Mark CallOldMethod As Obsolete.
   [ObsoleteAttribute("This method is obsolete. Call CallNewMethod instead.", true)]
   public static string CallOldMethod()
   {
      return "You have called CallOldMethod.";
   }

   public static string CallNewMethod()
   {
      return "You have called CallNewMethod.";
   }

   public static void Main()
   {
      Console.WriteLine(OldProperty);
      Console.WriteLine();
      Console.WriteLine(CallOldMethod());
   }
}
// The attempt to compile this example produces output like the following output:
//    Example.cs(31,25): error CS0619: 'Example.CallOldMethod()' is obsolete:
//            'This method is obsolete. Call CallNewMethod instead.'
//    Example.cs(29,25): warning CS0618: 'Example.OldProperty' is obsolete:
//            'This property is obsolete. Use NewProperty instead.'

open System

// Mark oldValue As Obsolete.
[<ObsoleteAttribute("This value is obsolete. Use newValue instead.", false)>]
let oldValue =
    "The old property value."

let newValue =
    "The new property value."

// Mark callOldFunction As Obsolete.
[<ObsoleteAttribute("This function is obsolete. Call callNewFunction instead.", true)>]
let callOldFunction () =
    "You have called CallOldMethod."

let callNewFunction () =
    "You have called CallNewMethod."

printfn $"{oldValue}"
printfn ""
printfn $"{callOldFunction ()}"
// The attempt to compile this example produces output like the following output:
//    Example.fs(23,12): error FS0101: This construct is deprecated. This function is obsolete. Call callNewFunction instead.
//    Example.fs(21,12): warning FS0044: This construct is deprecated. This value is obsolete. Use newValue instead.

Imports System.Reflection

Public Module Example
   ' Mark OldProperty As Obsolete.
   <ObsoleteAttribute("This property is obsolete. Use NewProperty instead.", False)> 
   Public ReadOnly Property OldProperty As String
      Get
         Return "The old property value."
      End Get
   End Property
   
   Public ReadOnly Property NewProperty As String
      Get
         Return "The new property value."
      End Get
   End Property
   
   ' Mark OldMethod As Obsolete.
   <ObsoleteAttribute("This method is obsolete. Call CallNewMethod instead.", True)> 
   Public Function CallOldMethod() As String
      Return "You have called CallOldMethod."
   End Function
      
   Public Function CallNewMethod() As String   
      Return "You have called NewMethod."
   End Function   
   
   Public Sub Main()
      Console.WriteLine(OldProperty)
      Console.WriteLine()
      Console.WriteLine(CallOldMethod())
   End Sub  
End Module
'  The attempt to compile this example produces output like the following:
'    Example.vb(30) : warning BC40000: 'Public ReadOnly Property OldProperty As String' is obsolete: 
'                     'This property is obsolete. Use NewProperty instead.'.
'    
'          Console.WriteLine(OldProperty)
'                            ~~~~~~~~~~~
'    Example.vb(32) : error BC30668: 'Public Function CallOldMethod() As String' is obsolete: 
'                     'This method is obsolete. Call CallNewMethod instead.'.
'    
'          Console.WriteLine(CallOldMethod())
'                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remarks

ObsoleteAttribute is applicable to all program elements except assemblies, modules, parameters, and return values. Marking an element as obsolete informs users that the element may be removed in a future version of the product.

The string assigned to the Message property is emitted by the compiler when the attribute target is used in code. Ideally, the string should provide some workaround or programmatic alternative.

Use the IsError property to indicate to the compiler whether using the ObsoleteAttribute attribute should cause it to emit an error (IsError is true) or a warning (IsError is false).

For more information about using attributes, see Attributes.

Constructors

ObsoleteAttribute()	Initializes a new instance of the ObsoleteAttribute class with default properties.
ObsoleteAttribute(String, Boolean)	Initializes a new instance of the ObsoleteAttribute class with a workaround message and a Boolean value indicating whether the obsolete element usage is considered an error.
ObsoleteAttribute(String)	Initializes a new instance of the ObsoleteAttribute class with a specified workaround message.

Properties

DiagnosticId	Gets or sets the ID that the compiler will use when reporting a use of the API.
IsError	Gets a value that indicates whether the compiler will treat usage of the obsolete program element as an error.
Message	Gets the workaround message.
TypeId	When implemented in a derived class, gets a unique identifier for this Attribute. (Inherited from Attribute)
UrlFormat	Gets or sets the URL for corresponding documentation. The API accepts a format string instead of an actual URL, creating a generic URL that includes the diagnostic ID.

Methods

Equals(Object)	Returns a value that indicates whether this instance is equal to a specified object. (Inherited from Attribute)
GetHashCode()	Returns the hash code for this instance. (Inherited from Attribute)
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
IsDefaultAttribute()	When overridden in a derived class, indicates whether the value of this instance is the default value for the derived class. (Inherited from Attribute)
Match(Object)	When overridden in a derived class, returns a value that indicates whether this instance equals a specified object. (Inherited from Attribute)
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)

See also

• Attribute
• Extend metadata using attributes