Type.ToString Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System

Assembly:: System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Source:: Type.cs

Source:: Type.cs

Source:: Type.cs

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Returns a String representing the name of the current Type.

public:
 override System::String ^ ToString();

public override string ToString ();

override this.ToString : unit -> string

Public Overrides Function ToString () As String

Returns

String

A String representing the name of the current Type.

Implements

ToString()

Examples

This following example demonstrates a use of the Namespace and Module properties and the ToString method of Type.

using namespace System;

namespace MyNamespace
{
   ref class MyClass
   {
   };
}

void main()
{
      Type^ myType = MyNamespace::MyClass::typeid;
      Console::WriteLine("Displaying information about {0}:", myType );
      
      // Get the namespace of the class MyClass.
      Console::WriteLine("   Namespace: {0}", myType->Namespace );
      
      // Get the name of the module.
      Console::WriteLine("   Module: {0}", myType->Module );
      
      // Get the fully qualified common language runtime namespace.
      Console::WriteLine("   Fully qualified type: {0}", myType );
}
// The example displays the following output:
//    Displaying information about MyNamespace.MyClass:
//       Namespace: MyNamespace
//       Module: type_tostring.exe
//       Fully qualified name: MyNamespace.MyClass

using System;

namespace MyNamespace
{
    class MyClass
    {
    }
}

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
         Type myType = typeof(MyNamespace.MyClass);
         Console.WriteLine("Displaying information about {0}:", myType);
         // Get the namespace of the myClass class.
         Console.WriteLine("   Namespace: {0}.", myType.Namespace);
         // Get the name of the module.
         Console.WriteLine("   Module: {0}.", myType.Module);
         // Get the fully qualified type name.
         Console.WriteLine("   Fully qualified name: {0}.", myType.ToString());
    }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//    Displaying information about MyNamespace.MyClass:
//       Namespace: MyNamespace.
//       Module: type_tostring.exe.
//       Fully qualified name: MyNamespace.MyClass.

namespace MyNamespace
    
type MyClass() = class end

namespace global

module Example = 
    let myType = typeof<MyNamespace.MyClass>
    printfn $"Displaying information about {myType}:"
    // Get the namespace of the myClass class.
    printfn $"   Namespace: {myType.Namespace}."
    // Get the name of the ilmodule.
    printfn $"   Module: {myType.Module}."
    // Get the fully qualified type name.
    printfn $"   Fully qualified name: {myType.ToString()}."
// The example displays the following output:
//    Displaying information about MyNamespace.MyClass:
//       Namespace: MyNamespace.
//       Module: type_tostring.exe.
//       Fully qualified name: MyNamespace.MyClass.

Namespace MyNamespace
    Class [MyClass]
    End Class 
End Namespace 

Public Class Example
    Public Shared Sub Main()
         Dim myType As Type = GetType(MyNamespace.MyClass)
         Console.WriteLine(", myType)
         ' Get the namespace of the MyClass class.
         Console.WriteLine("   Namespace: {0}.", myType.Namespace)
         ' Get the name of the module.
         Console.WriteLine("   Module: {0}.", myType.Module)
         ' Get the fully qualified type name.
         Console.WriteLine("   Fully qualified name: {0}.", myType.ToString())
    End Sub
End Class
' The example displays the following output:
'       Displaying information about MyNamespace.MyClass:
'          Namespace: MyNamespace.
'          Module: type_tostring.exe.
'          Fully qualified name: MyNamespace.MyClass.

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

This method returns the fully qualified common language runtime namespace and name for all primitive types. For example, the C# instruction, (long)0.Type().ToString() returns "System.Int64" instead of merely "Int64".

If the current Type represents a generic type, the type and its type arguments are qualified by namespace and by nested type, but not by assembly. If the current Type represents a type parameter in the definition of a generic type or generic method, this method returns the unqualified name of the type parameter.

Applies to

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