Type.GenericParameterAttributes Property
Definition
Important
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Gets a combination of GenericParameterAttributes flags that describe the covariance and special constraints of the current generic type parameter.
public:
virtual property System::Reflection::GenericParameterAttributes GenericParameterAttributes { System::Reflection::GenericParameterAttributes get(); };
public virtual System.Reflection.GenericParameterAttributes GenericParameterAttributes { get; }
member this.GenericParameterAttributes : System.Reflection.GenericParameterAttributes
Public Overridable ReadOnly Property GenericParameterAttributes As GenericParameterAttributes
Property Value
A bitwise combination of GenericParameterAttributes values that describes the covariance and special constraints of the current generic type parameter.
Exceptions
The current Type object is not a generic type parameter. That is, the IsGenericParameter property returns false
.
The invoked method is not supported in the base class.
Examples
The following code example defines a generic type Test
with two type parameters that have different constraints. When the program executes, the constraints are examined using the GenericParameterAttributes property and the GetGenericParameterConstraints method.
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections;
using namespace System::Reflection;
// Define a sample interface to use as an interface constraint.
interface class ITest{};
// Define a base type to use as a class constraint.
public ref class Base{};
// Define the generic type to examine. The first generic type parameter,
// T, derives from the class Base and implements ITest. This demonstrates
// a base class constraint and an interface constraint. In the .NET
// Framework version 2.0, C++ has no way of expressing special constraints.
// See the C# example code.
//
generic <typename T, typename U>
where T : Base, ITest
ref class Test {};
// Define a type that derives from Base and implements interface
// ITest. This type satisfies the constraint on T in class Test.
public ref class Derived: public Base, public ITest {};
public ref class Example
{
public:
static void Main()
{
// Create a constructed type from Test<T,U>, and from it
// get the generic type definition.
//
Type^ def = Test::typeid;
Console::WriteLine( L"\r\nExamining generic type {0}", def );
// Get the type parameters of the generic type definition,
// and display them.
//
for each (Type^ tp in def->GetGenericArguments())
{
Console::WriteLine( L"\r\nType parameter: {0}", tp);
Console::WriteLine( L"\t{0}",
ListGenericParameterAttributes( tp ) );
// List the base class and interface constraints. The
// constraints do not appear in any particular order. If
// there are no class or interface constraints, an empty
// array is returned.
//
for each (Type^ constraint in tp->GetGenericParameterConstraints())
{
Console::WriteLine( L"\t{0}", constraint );
}
}
}
private:
// List the variance and special constraint flags.
//
static String^ ListGenericParameterAttributes( Type^ t )
{
String^ retval;
GenericParameterAttributes gpa = t->GenericParameterAttributes;
// Select the variance flag.
GenericParameterAttributes variance =
static_cast<GenericParameterAttributes>(
gpa & GenericParameterAttributes::VarianceMask );
if ( variance == GenericParameterAttributes::None )
retval = L"No variance flag;";
else
{
if ( (variance & GenericParameterAttributes::Covariant) !=
GenericParameterAttributes::None )
retval = L"Covariant;";
else
retval = L"Contravariant;";
}
// Select the special constraint flags.
GenericParameterAttributes constraints =
static_cast<GenericParameterAttributes>(
gpa & GenericParameterAttributes::SpecialConstraintMask);
if ( constraints == GenericParameterAttributes::None )
retval = String::Concat( retval, L" No special constraints" );
else
{
if ( (constraints & GenericParameterAttributes::ReferenceTypeConstraint) !=
GenericParameterAttributes::None )
retval = String::Concat( retval, L" ReferenceTypeConstraint" );
if ( (constraints & GenericParameterAttributes::NotNullableValueTypeConstraint) !=
GenericParameterAttributes::None )
retval = String::Concat( retval, L" NotNullableValueTypeConstraint" );
if ( (constraints & GenericParameterAttributes::DefaultConstructorConstraint) !=
GenericParameterAttributes::None )
retval = String::Concat( retval, L" DefaultConstructorConstraint" );
}
return retval;
}
};
int main()
{
Example::Main();
}
/* This example produces the following output:
Examining generic type Test`2[T,U]
Type parameter: T
No variance flag; No special constraints
Base
ITest
Type parameter: U
No variance flag; No special constraints
*/
using System;
using System.Reflection;
// Define a sample interface to use as an interface constraint.
public interface ITest {}
// Define a base type to use as a base class constraint.
public class Base {}
// Define the generic type to examine. The first generic type parameter,
// T, derives from the class Base and implements ITest. This demonstrates
// a base class constraint and an interface constraint. The second generic
// type parameter, U, must be a reference type (class) and must have a
// default constructor (new()). This demonstrates special constraints.
//
public class Test<T,U>
where T : Base, ITest
where U : class, new() {}
// Define a type that derives from Base and implements ITest. This type
// satisfies the constraints on T in class Test.
public class Derived : Base, ITest {}
public class Example
{
public static void Main()
{
// To get the generic type definition, omit the type
// arguments but retain the comma to indicate the number
// of type arguments.
//
Type def = typeof(Test<,>);
Console.WriteLine("\r\nExamining generic type {0}", def);
// Get the type parameters of the generic type definition,
// and display them.
//
Type[] defparams = def.GetGenericArguments();
foreach (Type tp in defparams)
{
Console.WriteLine("\r\nType parameter: {0}", tp.Name);
Console.WriteLine("\t{0}",
ListGenericParameterAttributes(tp));
// List the base class and interface constraints. The
// constraints are returned in no particular order. If
// there are no class or interface constraints, an empty
// array is returned.
//
Type[] tpConstraints = tp.GetGenericParameterConstraints();
foreach (Type tpc in tpConstraints)
{
Console.WriteLine("\t{0}", tpc);
}
}
}
// List the variance and special constraint flags.
//
private static string ListGenericParameterAttributes(Type t)
{
string retval;
GenericParameterAttributes gpa = t.GenericParameterAttributes;
GenericParameterAttributes variance = gpa &
GenericParameterAttributes.VarianceMask;
// Select the variance flags.
if (variance == GenericParameterAttributes.None)
{
retval = "No variance flag;";
}
else
{
if ((variance & GenericParameterAttributes.Covariant) != 0)
retval = "Covariant;";
else
retval = "Contravariant;";
}
// Select
GenericParameterAttributes constraints = gpa &
GenericParameterAttributes.SpecialConstraintMask;
if (constraints == GenericParameterAttributes.None)
{
retval += " No special constraints";
}
else
{
if ((constraints & GenericParameterAttributes.ReferenceTypeConstraint) != 0)
retval += " ReferenceTypeConstraint";
if ((constraints & GenericParameterAttributes.NotNullableValueTypeConstraint) != 0)
retval += " NotNullableValueTypeConstraint";
if ((constraints & GenericParameterAttributes.DefaultConstructorConstraint) != 0)
retval += " DefaultConstructorConstraint";
}
return retval;
}
}
/* This example produces the following output:
Examining generic type Test`2[T,U]
Type parameter: T
No variance flag; no special constraints.
Base
ITest
Type parameter: U
No variance flag; ReferenceTypeConstraint DefaultConstructorConstraint
*/
open System
open System.Reflection
// Define a sample interface to use as an interface constraint.
type ITest = interface end
// Define a base type to use as a base class constraint.
type Base() = class end
// Define the generic type to examine. The first generic type parameter,
// T, derives from the class Base and implements ITest. This demonstrates
// a base class constraint and an interface constraint. The second generic
// type parameter, U, must be a reference type (class) and must have a
// default constructor (new()). This demonstrates special constraints.
type Test<'T, 'U
when 'T :> Base
and 'T :> ITest
and 'U : not struct
and 'U : (new : unit -> 'U)>() = class end
// Define a type that derives from Base and implements ITest. This type
// satisfies the constraints on T in class Test.
type Derived() =
inherit Base()
interface ITest
// List the variance and special constraint flags.
let listGenericParameterAttributes (t: Type) =
let gpa = t.GenericParameterAttributes
let variance = gpa &&& GenericParameterAttributes.VarianceMask
let mutable retval =
// Select the variance flags.
if variance = GenericParameterAttributes.None then
"No variance flag"
else
if variance &&& GenericParameterAttributes.Covariant |> int <> 0 then
"Covariant"
else
"Contravariant"
// Select
let constraints = gpa &&& GenericParameterAttributes.SpecialConstraintMask
if constraints = GenericParameterAttributes.None then
retval <- retval + " No special constraints"
else
if constraints &&& GenericParameterAttributes.ReferenceTypeConstraint |> int <> 0 then
retval <- retval + " ReferenceTypeConstraint"
if constraints &&& GenericParameterAttributes.NotNullableValueTypeConstraint |> int <> 0 then
retval <- retval + " NotNullableValueTypeConstraint"
if constraints &&& GenericParameterAttributes.DefaultConstructorConstraint |> int <> 0 then
retval <- retval + " DefaultConstructorConstraint"
retval
// To get the generic type definition, call .GetGenericTypeDefinition().
let def = typeof<Test<Derived, _>>.GetGenericTypeDefinition()
printfn $"\nExamining generic type {def}"
// Get the type parameters of the generic type definition,
// and display them.
let defparams = def.GetGenericArguments()
for tp in defparams do
printfn $"\nType parameter: {tp.Name}"
printfn $"\t{listGenericParameterAttributes tp}"
// List the base class and interface constraints. The
// constraints are returned in no particular order. If
// there are no class or interface constraints, an empty
// array is returned.
let tpConstraints = tp.GetGenericParameterConstraints()
for tpc in tpConstraints do
printfn $"\t{tpc}"
(* This example produces the following output:
Examining generic type Test`2[T,U]
Type parameter: T
No variance flag no special constraints.
Base
ITest
Type parameter: U
No variance flag ReferenceTypeConstraint DefaultConstructorConstraint
*)
Imports System.Reflection
' Define a sample interface to use as an interface constraint.
Public Interface ITest
End Interface
' Define a base type to use as a base class constraint.
Public Class Base
End Class
' Define the generic type to examine. The first generic type parameter,
' T, derives from the class Base and implements ITest. This demonstrates
' a base class constraint and an interface constraint. The second generic
' type parameter, U, must be a reference type (Class) and must have a
' default constructor (New). This demonstrates special constraints.
'
Public Class Test(Of T As {Base, ITest}, U As {New, Class})
End Class
' Define a type that derives from Base and implements ITtest. This type
' satisfies the constraints on T in class Test.
Public Class Derived
Inherits Base
Implements ITest
End Class
Public Class Example
Public Shared Sub Main()
' To get the generic type definition, omit the type
' arguments but retain the comma to indicate the number
' of type arguments.
'
Dim def As Type = GetType(Test(Of ,))
Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Examining generic type {0}", def)
' Get the type parameters of the generic type definition,
' and display them.
'
Dim defparams() As Type = def.GetGenericArguments()
For Each tp As Type In defparams
Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Type parameter: {0}", tp.Name)
Console.WriteLine(vbTab & ListGenericParameterAttributes(tp))
' List the base class and interface constraints. The
' constraints do not appear in any particular order. An
' empty array is returned if there are no constraints.
'
Dim tpConstraints As Type() = _
tp.GetGenericParameterConstraints()
For Each tpc As Type In tpConstraints
Console.WriteLine(vbTab & tpc.ToString())
Next tpc
Next tp
End Sub
' List the variance and special constraint flags.
'
Private Shared Function ListGenericParameterAttributes(ByVal t As Type) As String
Dim retval As String
Dim gpa As GenericParameterAttributes = t.GenericParameterAttributes
' Select the variance flags.
Dim variance As GenericParameterAttributes = _
gpa And GenericParameterAttributes.VarianceMask
If variance = GenericParameterAttributes.None Then
retval = "No variance flag;"
Else
If (variance And GenericParameterAttributes.Covariant) <> 0 Then
retval = "Covariant;"
Else
retval = "Contravariant;"
End If
End If
' Select the constraint flags.
Dim constraints As GenericParameterAttributes = _
gpa And GenericParameterAttributes.SpecialConstraintMask
If constraints = GenericParameterAttributes.None Then
retval &= " no special constraints."
Else
If (constraints And GenericParameterAttributes.ReferenceTypeConstraint) <> 0 Then
retval &= " ReferenceTypeConstraint"
End If
If (constraints And GenericParameterAttributes.NotNullableValueTypeConstraint) <> 0 Then
retval &= " NotNullableValueTypeConstraint"
End If
If (constraints And GenericParameterAttributes.DefaultConstructorConstraint) <> 0 Then
retval &= " DefaultConstructorConstraint"
End If
End If
Return retval
End Function
End Class
' This example produces the following output:
'
'Examining generic type Test`2[T,U]
'
'Type parameter: T
' No variance flag; no special constraints.
' Base
' ITest
'
'Type parameter: U
' No variance flag; ReferenceTypeConstraint DefaultConstructorConstraint
'
Remarks
The value of this property contains flags that describe whether the current generic type parameter is covariant, and flags that describe any special constraints. Use the GenericParameterAttributes.VarianceMask value to select the covariance flags, and use the GenericParameterAttributes.SpecialConstraintMask value to select the constraint flags.
For a list of the invariant conditions for terms used in generic reflection, see the IsGenericType property remarks.