Compiler Error CS0456

  • Article

Type parameter 'Type Parameter Name 1' has the 'struct' constraint so 'Type Parameter Name 1' cannot be used as a constraint for 'Type Parameter Name 2'

Value type constraints are implicitly sealed so those constraints cannot be used as constraints on a second type parameter. This is because value types cannot be overridden. To resolve this error, put a value type constraint directly on the second type parameter, instead of doing so indirectly by means of the first type parameter.

Example

The following sample generates CS0456.

// CS0456.cs
// compile with: /target:library
public class GenericsErrors
{
   public class G5<T> where T : struct
   {
      public class N<U> where U : T {}   // CS0456
      public class N2<U> where U : struct {}   // OK
   }
}