MethodBody Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Reflection

Assembly:

System.Runtime.dll

Source:

MethodBody.cs

Provides access to the metadata and MSIL for the body of a method.

public ref class MethodBody

public class MethodBody

type MethodBody = class

Public Class MethodBody

Inheritance

Object

MethodBody

Examples

The following code example defines a test method named MethodBodyExample and displays its local variable information and exception-handling clauses. The MethodBase.GetMethodBody method is used to obtain a MethodBody object for the test method.

The example uses the LocalVariables property to obtain a list of LocalVariableInfo objects and then displays their types and index order. The ExceptionHandlingClauses property is used to obtain a list of exception-handling clauses.

#using <System.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;

public ref class Example
{
    // The Main method contains code to analyze this method, using
    // the properties and methods of the MethodBody class.
public:
    void MethodBodyExample(Object^ arg)
    {
        // Define some local variables. In addition to these variables,
        // the local variable list includes the variables scoped to 
        // the catch clauses.
        int var1 = 42;
        String^ var2 = "Forty-two";

        try
        {
            // Depending on the input value, throw an ArgumentException or 
            // an ArgumentNullException to test the Catch clauses.
            if (arg == nullptr)
            {
                throw gcnew ArgumentNullException("The argument cannot " +
                    "be null.");
            }
            if (arg->GetType() == String::typeid)
            {
                throw gcnew ArgumentException("The argument cannot " + 
                    "be a string.");
            }        
        }

        // There is no Filter clause in this code example. See the Visual 
        // Basic code for an example of a Filter clause.

        // This catch clause handles the ArgumentException class, and
        // any other class derived from Exception.
        catch (ArgumentException^ ex)
        {
            Console::WriteLine("Ordinary exception-handling clause caught:" +
                " {0}", ex->GetType());
        }        
        finally
        {
            var1 = 3033;
            var2 = "Another string.";
        }
    }
};

int main()
{ 
    // Get method body information.
    MethodInfo^ mi = 
        Example::typeid->GetMethod("MethodBodyExample");

    MethodBody^ mb = mi->GetMethodBody();
    Console::WriteLine("\r\nMethod: {0}", mi);

    // Display the general information included in the 
    // MethodBody object.
    Console::WriteLine("    Local variables are initialized: {0}", 
        mb->InitLocals);
    Console::WriteLine("    Maximum number of items on the operand " +
        "stack: {0}", mb->MaxStackSize);

    // Display information about the local variables in the
    // method body.
    Console::WriteLine();
    for each (LocalVariableInfo^ lvi in mb->LocalVariables)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("Local variable: {0}", lvi);
    }

    // Display exception handling clauses.
    Console::WriteLine();
    for each(ExceptionHandlingClause^ exhc in mb->ExceptionHandlingClauses)
    {
        Console::WriteLine(exhc->Flags.ToString());

        // The FilterOffset property is meaningful only for Filter
        // clauses. The CatchType property is not meaningful for 
        // Filter or Finally clauses. 
        switch(exhc->Flags)
        {
        case ExceptionHandlingClauseOptions::Filter:
            Console::WriteLine("        Filter Offset: {0}", 
                exhc->FilterOffset);
            break;
        case ExceptionHandlingClauseOptions::Finally:
            break;
        default:
            Console::WriteLine("    Type of exception: {0}", 
                exhc->CatchType);
            break;
        }

        Console::WriteLine("       Handler Length: {0}",
            exhc->HandlerLength);
        Console::WriteLine("       Handler Offset: {0}", 
            exhc->HandlerOffset);
        Console::WriteLine("     Try Block Length: {0}", exhc->TryLength);
        Console::WriteLine("     Try Block Offset: {0}", exhc->TryOffset);
    }
}

//This code example produces output similar to the following:
//
//Method: Void MethodBodyExample(System.Object)
//    Local variables are initialized: False
//    Maximum number of items on the operand stack: 4
//
//Local variable: System.ArgumentException (0)
//Local variable: System.String (1)
//Local variable: System.Int32 (2)
//Clause
//    Type of exception: System.ArgumentException
//       Handler Length: 29
//       Handler Offset: 78
//     Try Block Length: 65
//     Try Block Offset: 13
//Finally
//       Handler Length: 13
//       Handler Offset: 113
//     Try Block Length: 100
//     Try Block Offset: 13

using System;
using System.Reflection;

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Get method body information.
        MethodInfo mi = typeof(Example).GetMethod("MethodBodyExample");
        MethodBody mb = mi.GetMethodBody();
        Console.WriteLine("\r\nMethod: {0}", mi);

        // Display the general information included in the
        // MethodBody object.
        Console.WriteLine("    Local variables are initialized: {0}",
            mb.InitLocals);
        Console.WriteLine("    Maximum number of items on the operand stack: {0}",
            mb.MaxStackSize);

        // Display information about the local variables in the
        // method body.
        Console.WriteLine();
        foreach (LocalVariableInfo lvi in mb.LocalVariables)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Local variable: {0}", lvi);
        }

        // Display exception handling clauses.
        Console.WriteLine();
        foreach (ExceptionHandlingClause ehc in mb.ExceptionHandlingClauses)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ehc.Flags.ToString());

            // The FilterOffset property is meaningful only for Filter
            // clauses. The CatchType property is not meaningful for
            // Filter or Finally clauses.
            switch (ehc.Flags)
            {
                case ExceptionHandlingClauseOptions.Filter:
                    Console.WriteLine("        Filter Offset: {0}",
                        ehc.FilterOffset);
                    break;
                case ExceptionHandlingClauseOptions.Finally:
                    break;
                default:
                    Console.WriteLine("    Type of exception: {0}",
                        ehc.CatchType);
                    break;
            }

            Console.WriteLine("       Handler Length: {0}", ehc.HandlerLength);
            Console.WriteLine("       Handler Offset: {0}", ehc.HandlerOffset);
            Console.WriteLine("     Try Block Length: {0}", ehc.TryLength);
            Console.WriteLine("     Try Block Offset: {0}", ehc.TryOffset);
        }
    }

    // The Main method contains code to analyze this method, using
    // the properties and methods of the MethodBody class.
    public void MethodBodyExample(object arg)
    {
        // Define some local variables. In addition to these variables,
        // the local variable list includes the variables scoped to
        // the catch clauses.
        int var1 = 42;
        string var2 = "Forty-two";

        try
        {
            // Depending on the input value, throw an ArgumentException or
            // an ArgumentNullException to test the Catch clauses.
            if (arg == null)
            {
                throw new ArgumentNullException("The argument cannot be null.");
            }
            if (arg.GetType() == typeof(string))
            {
                throw new ArgumentException("The argument cannot be a string.");
            }
        }

        // This filter clause selects only exceptions that derive
        // from the ArgumentException class.
        // Other exceptions, including ArgumentException itself,
        // are not handled by this filter clause.
        catch (ArgumentException ex) when (ex.GetType().IsSubclassOf(typeof(ArgumentException)))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Filter clause caught: {0}", ex.GetType());
        }

        // This catch clause handles the ArgumentException class, and
        // any other class derived from Exception.
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Ordinary exception-handling clause caught: {0}",
                ex.GetType());
        }
        finally
        {
            var1 = 3033;
            var2 = "Another string.";
        }
    }
}

// This code example produces output similar to the following:
//
//Method: Void MethodBodyExample(System.Object)
//    Local variables are initialized: True
//    Maximum number of items on the operand stack: 2
//
//Local variable: System.Int32 (0)
//Local variable: System.String (1)
//Local variable: System.Exception (2)
//Local variable: System.Boolean (3)
//
//Filter
//      Filter Offset: 71
//      Handler Length: 23
//      Handler Offset: 116
//      Try Block Length: 61
//      Try Block Offset: 10
//Clause
//    Type of exception: System.Exception
//       Handler Length: 21
//       Handler Offset: 70
//     Try Block Length: 61
//     Try Block Offset: 9
//Finally
//       Handler Length: 14
//       Handler Offset: 94
//     Try Block Length: 85
//     Try Block Offset: 9

Imports System.Reflection

Public Class Example

    Public Shared Sub Main()

        ' Demonstrate the effect of the Visual Basic When keyword, which
        ' generates a Filter clause in the Try block.
        Dim e As New Example()
        Console.WriteLine()
        e.MethodBodyExample("String argument")
        e.MethodBodyExample(Nothing)

        ' Get method body information.
        Dim mi As MethodInfo = _
            GetType(Example).GetMethod("MethodBodyExample")
        Dim mb As MethodBody = mi.GetMethodBody()
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Method: {0}", mi)

        ' Display the general information included in the 
        ' MethodBody object.
        Console.WriteLine("    Local variables are initialized: {0}", _
            mb.InitLocals)
        Console.WriteLine("    Maximum number of items on the operand stack: {0}", _
            mb.MaxStackSize)

        ' Display information about the local variables in the
        ' method body.
        Console.WriteLine()
        For Each lvi As LocalVariableInfo In mb.LocalVariables
            Console.WriteLine("Local variable: {0}", lvi)
        Next

        ' Display exception handling clauses.
        Console.WriteLine()
        For Each ehc As ExceptionHandlingClause In mb.ExceptionHandlingClauses
            Console.WriteLine(ehc.Flags.ToString())

            ' The FilterOffset property is meaningful only for Filter
            ' clauses. The CatchType property is not meaningful for 
            ' Filter or Finally clauses. 
            Select Case ehc.Flags
                Case ExceptionHandlingClauseOptions.Filter
                    Console.WriteLine("        Filter Offset: {0}", _
                        ehc.FilterOffset)
                Case ExceptionHandlingClauseOptions.Finally
                Case Else
                    Console.WriteLine("    Type of exception: {0}", _
                        ehc.CatchType)
            End Select

            Console.WriteLine("       Handler Length: {0}", ehc.HandlerLength)
            Console.WriteLine("       Handler Offset: {0}", ehc.HandlerOffset)
            Console.WriteLine("     Try Block Length: {0}", ehc.TryLength)
            Console.WriteLine("     Try Block Offset: {0}", ehc.TryOffset)
        Next
    End Sub

    ' This test method is executed at the beginning of Main, to show
    ' how the Filter clause works. The Filter clause is generated by 
    ' a Visual Basic When expression. If arg is Nothing, this method
    ' throws ArgumentNullException, which is caught by the filter
    ' clause. If arg is a string, the method throws ArgumentException,
    ' which does not match the filter clause.
    '
    ' Sub Main also contains code to analyze this method, using 
    ' the properties and methods of the MethodBody class.
    Public Sub MethodBodyExample(ByVal arg As Object)

        ' Define some local variables. In addition to these variables,
        ' the local variable list includes the variables scoped to 
        ' the catch clauses.
        Dim var1 As Integer = 42
        Dim var2 As String = "Forty-two"

        Try
            ' Depending on the input value, throw an ArgumentException or 
            ' an ArgumentNullException to test the Catch clauses.
            '
            If arg Is Nothing Then
                Throw New ArgumentNullException("The argument cannot be Nothing.")
            End If
            If arg.GetType() Is GetType(String) Then
                Throw New ArgumentException("The argument cannot be a string.")
            End If
        
        ' The When expression makes this a filter clause. The expression 
        ' selects only exceptions that derive from the ArgumentException
        ' class. Other exceptions, including ArgumentException itself, 
        ' are not handled by this filter clause.
        Catch ex As ArgumentException _
            When ex.GetType().IsSubclassOf(GetType(ArgumentException))

            Console.WriteLine("Filter clause caught: {0}", ex.GetType())
        
        ' This catch clause handles the ArgumentException class, and
        ' any other class derived from Exception.
        Catch ex As Exception
            Console.WriteLine("Ordinary exception-handling clause caught: {0}", _
                ex.GetType())

        Finally
            var1 = 3033
            var2 = "Another string."
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

' This code example produces output similar to the following:
'
'Ordinary exception-handling clause caught: System.ArgumentException
'Filter clause caught: System.ArgumentNullException
'
'Method: Void MethodBodyExample(System.Object)
'    Local variables are initialized: True
'    Maximum number of items on the operand stack: 3
'
'Local variable: System.Int32 (0)
'Local variable: System.String (1)
'Local variable: System.ArgumentException (2)
'Local variable: System.Exception (3)
'
'Filter
'        Filter Offset: 0
'       Handler Length: 19
'       Handler Offset: 99
'     Try Block Length: 45
'     Try Block Offset: 9
'Clause
'    Type of exception: System.Exception
'       Handler Length: 25
'       Handler Offset: 118
'     Try Block Length: 45
'     Try Block Offset: 9
'Finally
'       Handler Length: 13
'       Handler Offset: 153
'     Try Block Length: 144
'     Try Block Offset: 9

Remarks

The MethodBody class provides access to information about the local variables and exception-handling clauses in a method body, and to the Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) that makes up the method body.

You can use the token-resolution methods of the module class, such as ResolveType, ResolveMethod, and ResolveType, to resolve the tokens in the method body to Type objects, MethodInfo objects, and FieldInfo objects that provide detailed information about the types, methods, and fields accessed by the MSIL in the method body.

Note

Parsing method bodies requires a thorough understanding of metadata and MSIL instruction formats. Information can be found in the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) documentation, especially "Partition II: Metadata Definition and Semantics".

To obtain a MethodBody object for a given method, first obtain a MethodInfo object for the method, then call the MethodInfo object's GetMethodBody method.

Constructors

MethodBody()

Initializes a new instance of the MethodBody class.

Properties

ExceptionHandlingClauses	Gets a list that includes all the exception-handling clauses in the method body.
InitLocals	Gets a value indicating whether local variables in the method body are initialized to the default values for their types.
LocalSignatureMetadataToken	Gets a metadata token for the signature that describes the local variables for the method in metadata.
LocalVariables	Gets the list of local variables declared in the method body.
MaxStackSize	Gets the maximum number of items on the operand stack when the method is executing.

Methods

Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetILAsByteArray()	Returns the MSIL for the method body, as an array of bytes.
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)