Type.HasElementType Property

Definition

Namespace:

System

Assemblies:

netstandard.dll, System.Runtime.dll

Source:

Type.cs

Gets a value indicating whether the current Type encompasses or refers to another type; that is, whether the current Type is an array, a pointer, or is passed by reference.

C#

public bool HasElementType { get; }

Property Value

Boolean

true if the Type is an array, a pointer, or is passed by reference; otherwise, false.

Examples

The following example returns true or false depending on whether or not the object is an array, a reference type, or a pointer.

C#

// This code must be compiled with the /unsafe switch:
//   csc /unsafe source.cs
using System;
using System.Reflection;

public class Example
{
    // This method is for demonstration purposes.
    unsafe public void Test(ref int x, out int y, int* z)
    {
        *z = x = y = 0;
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        // All of the following display 'True'.

        // Define an array, get its type, and display HasElementType.
        int[] nums = {1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13};
        Type t = nums.GetType();
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for array types.", t.HasElementType);

        // Test an array type without defining an array.
        t = typeof(Example[]);
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for array types.", t.HasElementType);

        // When you use Reflection Emit to emit dynamic methods and
        // assemblies, you can create array types using MakeArrayType.
        // The following creates the type 'array of Example'.
        t = typeof(Example).MakeArrayType();
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for array types.", t.HasElementType);

        // When you reflect over methods, HasElementType is true for
        // ref, out, and pointer parameter types. The following
        // gets the Test method, defined above, and examines its
        // parameters.
        MethodInfo mi = typeof(Example).GetMethod("Test");
        ParameterInfo[] parms = mi.GetParameters();
        t = parms[0].ParameterType;
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for ref parameter types.", t.HasElementType);
        t = parms[1].ParameterType;
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for out parameter types.", t.HasElementType);
        t = parms[2].ParameterType;
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for pointer parameter types.", t.HasElementType);

        // When you use Reflection Emit to emit dynamic methods and
        // assemblies, you can create pointer and ByRef types to use
        // when you define method parameters.
        t = typeof(Example).MakePointerType();
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for pointer types.", t.HasElementType);
        t = typeof(Example).MakeByRefType();
        Console.WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for ByRef types.", t.HasElementType);
    }
}

Remarks

For example, Type.GetType("Int32[]").HasElementType returns true, but Type.GetType("Int32").HasElementType returns false. HasElementType also returns true for "Int32*" and "Int32&".

If the current Type represents a generic type, or a type parameter in the definition of a generic type or generic method, this property always returns false.

Applies to

See also

• HasElementTypeImpl()
• IsArray
• IsPointer
• IsByRef
• GetElementType()
• GetType()