CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#reflection
rutger
rutger

Reputation: 2355

C# Reflection: How to get class reference from string?

I want to do this in C#, but I don't know how:

I have a string with a class name -e.g: FooClass and I want to invoke a (static) method on this class: 

FooClass.MyMethod();

Obviously, I need to find a reference to the class via reflection, but how?

Upvotes: 115

Views: 209239

Answers (6)

Amol Bhor
Amol Bhor

Reputation: 2542

We can use

Type.GetType()

to get class name and can also create object of it using Activator.CreateInstance(type);

using System;
using System.Reflection;

namespace MyApplication
{
    class Application
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            Type type = Type.GetType("MyApplication.Action");
            if (type == null)
            {
                throw new Exception("Type not found.");
            }
            var instance = Activator.CreateInstance(type);
            //or
            var newClass = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetAssembly(type).CreateInstance("MyApplication.Action");
        }
    }

    public class Action
    {
        public string key { get; set; }
        public string Value { get; set; }
    }
}

Upvotes: 2

Jon Skeet
Jon Skeet

Reputation: 1503729

You can use Type.GetType(string), but you'll need to know the full class name including namespace, and if it's not in the current assembly or mscorlib you'll need the assembly name instead. (Ideally, use Assembly.GetType(typeName) instead - I find that easier in terms of getting the assembly reference right!)

For instance:

// "I know String is in the same assembly as Int32..."
Type stringType = typeof(int).Assembly.GetType("System.String");

// "It's in the current assembly"
Type myType = Type.GetType("MyNamespace.MyType");

// "It's in System.Windows.Forms.dll..."
Type formType = Type.GetType ("System.Windows.Forms.Form, " + 
    "System.Windows.Forms, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, " + 
    "PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089");

Upvotes: 120

André Voltolini
André Voltolini

Reputation: 446

A simple use:

Type typeYouWant = Type.GetType("NamespaceOfType.TypeName, AssemblyName");

Sample:

Type dogClass = Type.GetType("Animals.Dog, Animals");

Upvotes: 13

Atul Chaudhary
Atul Chaudhary

Reputation: 3736

Bit late for reply but this should do the trick

Type myType = Type.GetType("AssemblyQualifiedName");

your assembly qualified name should be like this

"Boom.Bam.Class, Boom.Bam, Version=1.0.0.262, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=e16dba1a3c4385bd"

Upvotes: 10

Andrew Hare
Andrew Hare

Reputation: 351748

You will want to use the Type.GetType method.

Here is a very simple example:

using System;
using System.Reflection;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Type t = Type.GetType("Foo");
        MethodInfo method 
             = t.GetMethod("Bar", BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.Public);

        method.Invoke(null, null);
    }
}

class Foo
{
    public static void Bar()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Bar");
    }
}

I say simple because it is very easy to find a type this way that is internal to the same assembly. Please see Jon's answer for a more thorough explanation as to what you will need to know about that. Once you have retrieved the type my example shows you how to invoke the method.

Upvotes: 148

GvS
GvS

Reputation: 52503

Via Type.GetType you can get the type information. You can use this class to get the method information and then invoke the method (for static methods, leave the first parameter null).

You might also need the Assembly name to correctly identify the type.

If the type is in the currently executing assembly or in Mscorlib.dll, it is sufficient to supply the type name qualified by its namespace.

Upvotes: 3

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