Type.FullName Property
Definition
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.
Gets the fully qualified name of the type, including its namespace but not its assembly.
public:
abstract property System::String ^ FullName { System::String ^ get(); };
public abstract string FullName { get; }
public abstract string? FullName { get; }
member this.FullName : string
Public MustOverride ReadOnly Property FullName As String
Property Value
The fully qualified name of the type, including its namespace but not its assembly; or null
if the current instance represents a generic type parameter, an array type, pointer type, or byref
type based on a type parameter, or a generic type that is not a generic type definition but contains unresolved type parameters.
Implements
Examples
The following example displays the full name of the specified type.
using namespace System;
int main()
{
Type^ t = Array::typeid;
Console::WriteLine( "The full name of the Array type is {0}.", t->FullName );
}
/* This example produces the following output:
The full name of the Array type is System.Array.
*/
using System;
class TestFullName
{
public static void Main()
{
Type t = typeof(Array);
Console.WriteLine("The full name of the Array type is {0}.", t.FullName);
}
}
/* This example produces the following output:
The full name of the Array type is System.Array.
*/
open System
let t = typeof<Array>
printfn $"The full name of the Array type is {t.FullName}."
(* This example produces the following output:
The full name of the Array type is System.Array.
*)
Class TestFullName
Public Shared Sub Main()
Dim t As Type = GetType(Array)
Console.WriteLine("The full name of the Array type is {0}.", t.FullName)
End Sub
End Class
' This example produces the following output:
'
'The full name of the Array type is System.Array.
'
The following example compares the strings returned by the ToString method and the Name, FullName
, and AssemblyQualifiedName properties.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;
public class Example
{
public static void Main()
{
Type t = typeof(String);
ShowTypeInfo(t);
t = typeof(List<>);
ShowTypeInfo(t);
var list = new List<String>();
t = list.GetType();
ShowTypeInfo(t);
Object v = 12;
t = v.GetType();
ShowTypeInfo(t);
t = typeof(IFormatProvider);
ShowTypeInfo(t);
IFormatProvider ifmt = NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo;
t = ifmt.GetType();
ShowTypeInfo(t);
}
private static void ShowTypeInfo(Type t)
{
Console.WriteLine($"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
For example, the fully qualified name of the String type is System.String
. Contrast this with the assembly-qualified name returned by the AssemblyQualifiedName property, which consists of the full name plus the full assembly name.
If the current type represents a closed generic type, the type arguments in the string returned by the FullName property are qualified by their full assembly name, even though the string representation of the generic type itself is not qualified by its full assembly name. The following example illustrates the difference in the FullName property for a type that represents generic type definition and one that represents a closed generic type.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class Example
{
public static void Main()
{
Type t = typeof(List<>);
Console.WriteLine(t.FullName);
Console.WriteLine();
List<String> list = new List<String>();
t = list.GetType();
Console.WriteLine(t.FullName);
}
}
// The example displays the following output:
// System.Collections.Generic.List`1
//
// System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscorlib,
// Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]
// ResizeArray<'T> is an F# type abbreviation for System.Collection.Generic.List<'T>
open System
let t = typeof<ResizeArray<_>>.GetGenericTypeDefinition()
printfn $"{t.FullName}"
Console.WriteLine()
let list = ResizeArray<String>()
let t2 = list.GetType()
printfn $"{t2.FullName}"
// The example displays the following output:
// System.Collections.Generic.List`1
//
// System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscorlib,
// Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Module Example
Public Sub Main()
Dim t As Type = GetType(List(Of))
Console.WriteLine(t.FullName)
Console.WriteLine()
Dim list As New List(Of String)()
t = list.GetType()
Console.WriteLine(t.FullName)
End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
' System.Collections.Generic.List`1
'
' System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[System.String, mscorlib,
' Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]]
This property returns null
if:
The current Type object represents a type parameter of a generic type.
The following example retrieves the type parameter of the Nullable<T> type and attempts to display its FullName property.
using System; using System.Reflection; public class Example { public static void Main() { Type t = typeof(Nullable<>); Console.WriteLine(t.FullName); if (t.IsGenericType) { Console.Write(" Generic Type Parameters: "); Type[] gtArgs = t.GetGenericArguments(); for (int ctr = 0; ctr < gtArgs.Length; ctr++) { Console.WriteLine(gtArgs[ctr].FullName ?? "(unassigned) " + gtArgs[ctr].ToString()); } Console.WriteLine(); } } } // The example displays the following output: // System.Nullable`1 // Generic Type Parameters: (unassigned) T
open System let t = typeof<Nullable<_>>.GetGenericTypeDefinition() printfn $"{t.FullName}" if t.IsGenericType then printf " Generic Type Parameters: " let gtArgs = t.GetGenericArguments() for arg in gtArgs do match arg.FullName with | null -> "(unassigned) " + string arg | _ -> arg.FullName |> printfn "%s" printfn "" // The example displays the following output: // System.Nullable`1 // Generic Type Parameters: (unassigned) T
Imports System.Reflection Module Example Public Sub Main() Dim t As Type = GetType(Nullable(Of )) Console.WriteLine(t.FullName) If t.IsGenericType Then Console.Write(" Generic Type Parameters: ") Dim gtArgs As Type() = t.GetGenericArguments For ctr As Integer = 0 To gtArgs.Length - 1 Console.WriteLine(If(gtArgs(ctr).FullName, "(unassigned) " + gtArgs(ctr).ToString())) If ctr < gtArgs.Length - 1 Then Console.Write(", ") Next Console.WriteLine() End If End Sub End Module ' The example displays the following output: ' System.Nullable`1 ' Generic Type Parameters: (unassigned) T
The current Type object represents an array type, a pointer type, or a
byref
type that is based on a generic type parameter.The following example defines a generic type,
Generictype1<T>
, with three methods:Display(T[])
, which is passed an array of type T;HandleT(T)
, which is passed a T object; andChangeValue(ref T)
, which is passed a T object by reference. Because C# and Visual Basic do not allow us to define T as a pointer in theHandleT
method, we have to call the MakePointerType method on the Type object that represents the method's parameter type to create a pointer to a generic type. The output from the example shows that in all three cases, the FullName property isnull
.using System; using System.Reflection; public class GenericType1<T> { public void Display(T[] elements) {} public void HandleT(T obj) {} public bool ChangeValue(ref T arg) { return true; } } public class Example { public static void Main() { Type t = typeof(GenericType1<>); Console.WriteLine("Type Name: {0}", t.FullName); MethodInfo[] methods = t.GetMethods(BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly | BindingFlags.Public); foreach (var method in methods) { Console.WriteLine(" Method: {0}", method.Name); // Get method parameters. ParameterInfo param = method.GetParameters()[0]; Type paramType = param.ParameterType; if (method.Name == "HandleT") paramType = paramType.MakePointerType(); Console.WriteLine(" Parameter: {0}", paramType.FullName ?? paramType.ToString() + " (unassigned)"); } } } // The example displays the following output: // Type Name: GenericType1`1 // Method: Display // Parameter: T[] (unassigned)) // Method: HandleT // Parameter: T* (unassigned) // Method: ChangeValue // Parameter: T& (unassigned)
open System.Reflection type GenericType1<'T>() = member _.Display(elements: 'T[]) = () member _.HandleT(obj: 'T) = () member _.ChangeValue(arg: 'T byref) = true let t = typeof<GenericType1<_>>.GetGenericTypeDefinition() printfn $"Type Name: {t.FullName}" let methods = t.GetMethods(BindingFlags.Instance ||| BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly ||| BindingFlags.Public) for method in methods do printfn $" Method: {method.Name}" // Get method parameters. let param = method.GetParameters()[0] let paramType = param.ParameterType if method.Name = "HandleT" then let paramType = paramType.MakePointerType() match paramType.FullName with | null -> string paramType + " (unassigned)" | _ -> paramType.FullName |> printfn " Parameter: %s" // The example displays the following output: // Type Name: GenericType1`1 // Method: Display // Parameter: T[] (unassigned)) // Method: HandleT // Parameter: T* (unassigned) // Method: ChangeValue // Parameter: T& (unassigned)
Imports System.Reflection Public Class GenericType1(Of T) Public Sub Display(elements As T()) End Sub ' Visual Basic does not support pointer types. Public Sub HandleT(obj As T) End Sub Public Function ChangeValue(ByRef arg As T) As Boolean Return True End Function End Class Module Example Public Sub Main() Dim t As Type = GetType(GenericType1(Of )) Console.WriteLine("Type Name: {0}", t.FullName) Dim methods() As MethodInfo = t.GetMethods(BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly Or BindingFlags.Public) For Each method In methods Console.WriteLine(" Method: {0}", method.Name) ' Get method parameters. Dim param As ParameterInfo = method.GetParameters()(0) Dim paramType As Type = param.ParameterType If method.Name = "HandleT" Then paramType = paramType.MakePointerType() End If Console.WriteLine(" Parameter: {0}", If(paramType.FullName, paramType.ToString() + " (unassigned)")) Next End Sub End Module ' The example displays the following output: ' Type Name: GenericType1`1 ' Method: Display ' Parameter: T[] (unassigned) ' Method: HandleT ' Parameter: T* (unassigned) ' Method: ChangeValue ' Parameter: T& (unassigned)
The current type contains generic type parameters that have not been replaced by specific types (that is, the ContainsGenericParameters property returns
true
), but the type is not a generic type definition (that is, the IsGenericTypeDefinition property returnsfalse
In the following example,
Derived<T>
inherits fromBase<T>
. The BaseType property obtains the Type object that represents the base type ofDerived<T>
, and its FullName property returnsnull
.using System; using System.Reflection; public class Base<T> { } public class Derived<T> : Base<T> { } public class Example { public static void Main() { Type t = typeof(Derived<>); Console.WriteLine("Generic Class: {0}", t.FullName); Console.WriteLine(" Contains Generic Paramters: {0}", t.ContainsGenericParameters); Console.WriteLine(" Generic Type Definition: {0}\n", t.IsGenericTypeDefinition); Type baseType = t.BaseType; Console.WriteLine("Its Base Class: {0}", baseType.FullName ?? "(unassigned) " + baseType.ToString()); Console.WriteLine(" Contains Generic Paramters: {0}", baseType.ContainsGenericParameters); Console.WriteLine(" Generic Type Definition: {0}", baseType.IsGenericTypeDefinition); Console.WriteLine(" Full Name: {0}\n", baseType.GetGenericTypeDefinition().FullName); t = typeof(Base<>); Console.WriteLine("Generic Class: {0}", t.FullName); Console.WriteLine(" Contains Generic Paramters: {0}", t.ContainsGenericParameters); Console.WriteLine(" Generic Type Definition: {0}\n", t.IsGenericTypeDefinition); } } // The example displays the following output: // Generic Class: Derived`1 // Contains Generic Paramters: True // Generic Type Definition: True // // Its Base Class: (unassigned) Base`1[T] // Contains Generic Paramters: True // Generic Type Definition: False // Full Name: Base`1 // // Generic Class: Base`1 // Contains Generic Paramters: True // Generic Type Definition: True
type Base<'T>() = class end type Derived<'T>() = inherit Base<'T>() let t = typeof<Derived<_>>.GetGenericTypeDefinition() printfn $"Generic Class: {t.FullName}" printfn $" Contains Generic Paramters: {t.ContainsGenericParameters}" printfn $" Generic Type Definition: {t.IsGenericTypeDefinition}\n" let baseType = t.BaseType match baseType.FullName with | null -> "(unassigned) " + string baseType | _ -> baseType.FullName |> printfn "Its Base Class: %s" printfn $" Contains Generic Paramters: {baseType.ContainsGenericParameters}" printfn $" Generic Type Definition: {baseType.IsGenericTypeDefinition}" printfn $" Full Name: {baseType.GetGenericTypeDefinition().FullName}\n" let t2 = typeof<Base<_>>.GetGenericTypeDefinition() printfn $"Generic Class: {t2.FullName}" printfn $" Contains Generic Paramters: {t2.ContainsGenericParameters}" printfn $" Generic Type Definition: {t2.IsGenericTypeDefinition}\n" // The example displays the following output: // Generic Class: Derived`1 // Contains Generic Paramters: True // Generic Type Definition: True // // Its Base Class: (unassigned) Base`1[T] // Contains Generic Paramters: True // Generic Type Definition: False // Full Name: Base`1 // // Generic Class: Base`1 // Contains Generic Paramters: True // Generic Type Definition: True
Imports System.Reflection Public Class Base(Of T) End Class Public Class Derived(Of T) : Inherits Base(Of T) End Class Module Example Public Sub Main() Dim t As Type = GetType(Derived(Of )) Console.WriteLine("Generic Class: {0}", t.FullName) Console.WriteLine(" Contains Generic Paramters: {0}", t.ContainsGenericParameters) Console.WriteLine(" Generic Type Definition: {0}", t.IsGenericTypeDefinition) Console.WriteLine() Dim baseType As Type = t.BaseType Console.WriteLine("Its Base Class: {0}", If(baseType.FullName, "(unassigned) " + baseType.ToString())) Console.WriteLine(" Contains Generic Paramters: {0}", baseType.ContainsGenericParameters) Console.WriteLine(" Generic Type Definition: {0}", baseType.IsGenericTypeDefinition) Console.WriteLine(" Full Name: {0}", baseType.GetGenericTypeDefinition().FullName) Console.WriteLine() t = GetType(Base(Of )) Console.WriteLine("Generic Class: {0}", t.FullName) Console.WriteLine(" Contains Generic Paramters: {0}", t.ContainsGenericParameters) Console.WriteLine(" Generic Type Definition: {0}", t.IsGenericTypeDefinition) End Sub End Module ' The example displays the following output: ' Generic Class: Derived`1 ' Contains Generic Paramters: True ' Generic Type Definition: True ' ' Its Base Class: (unassigned) Base`1[T] ' Contains Generic Paramters: True ' Generic Type Definition: False ' Full Name: Base`1 ' ' Generic Class: Base`1 ' Contains Generic Paramters: True ' Generic Type Definition: True
To get a FullName that is not
null
, you can use the GetGenericTypeDefinition method to get the generic type definition, as the example illustrates.
This property is read-only.