Type.GenericParameterPosition Property

public:
 abstract property int GenericParameterPosition { int get(); };

public:
 virtual property int GenericParameterPosition { int get(); };

public abstract int GenericParameterPosition { get; }

public virtual int GenericParameterPosition { get; }

member this.GenericParameterPosition : int

Public MustOverride ReadOnly Property GenericParameterPosition As Integer

Public Overridable ReadOnly Property GenericParameterPosition As Integer

Property Value

The position of a type parameter in the type parameter list of the generic type or method that defines the parameter. Position numbers begin at 0.

Exceptions

Examples

The following example defines a generic class with two type parameters and defines a second generic class that derives from the first class. The derived class's base class has two type arguments: the first is Int32, and the second is a type parameter of the derived type. The example displays information about these generic classes, including the positions reported by the GenericParameterPosition property.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;

// Define a base class with two type parameters.
generic< class T,class U >
public ref class Base {};

// Define a derived class. The derived class inherits from a constructed
// class that meets the following criteria:
//   (1) Its generic type definition is Base<T, U>.
//   (2) It specifies int for the first type parameter.
//   (3) For the second type parameter, it uses the same type that is used
//       for the type parameter of the derived class.
// Thus, the derived class is a generic type with one type parameter, but
// its base class is an open constructed type with one type argument and
// one type parameter.
generic<class V>
public ref class Derived : Base<int,V> {};

public ref class Test
{
public:
    static void Main()
    {
        Console::WriteLine( 
            L"\r\n--- Display a generic type and the open constructed");
        Console::WriteLine(L"    type from which it is derived.");
      
        // Create a Type object representing the generic type definition
        // for the Derived type. Note the absence of type arguments.
        //
        Type^ derivedType = Derived::typeid;
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(derivedType);
      
        // Display its open constructed base type.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(derivedType->BaseType);
    }


private:
    static void DisplayGenericTypeInfo(Type^ t)
    {
        Console::WriteLine(L"\r\n{0}", t);
        Console::WriteLine(L"\tIs this a generic type definition? {0}",
            t->IsGenericTypeDefinition);
        Console::WriteLine(L"\tIs it a generic type? {0}", t->IsGenericType);
        Console::WriteLine(L"\tDoes it have unassigned generic parameters? {0}",
            t->ContainsGenericParameters);
        if (t->IsGenericType)
        {
         
            // If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
            //
            array<Type^>^typeArguments = t->GetGenericArguments();
            Console::WriteLine(L"\tList type arguments ({0}):",
                typeArguments->Length);
            System::Collections::IEnumerator^ myEnum = 
                typeArguments->GetEnumerator();
            while (myEnum->MoveNext())
            {
                Type^ tParam = safe_cast<Type^>(myEnum->Current);
            
                // IsGenericParameter is true only for generic type
                // parameters.
                //
                if (tParam->IsGenericParameter)
                {
                    Console::WriteLine( 
                        L"\t\t{0}  (unassigned - parameter position {1})", 
                        tParam, tParam->GenericParameterPosition);
                }
                else
                {
                    Console::WriteLine(L"\t\t{0}", tParam);
                }
            }
        }
    }
};

int main()
{
    Test::Main();
}

/* This example produces the following output:

--- Display a generic type and the open constructed
    type from which it is derived.

Derived`1[V]
        Is this a generic type definition? True
        Is it a generic type? True
        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
        List type arguments (1):
                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)

Base`2[System.Int32,V]
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? True
        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
        List type arguments (2):
                System.Int32
                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)
 */

using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Collections.Generic;

// Define a base class with two type parameters.
public class Base<T, U> { }

// Define a derived class. The derived class inherits from a constructed
// class that meets the following criteria:
//   (1) Its generic type definition is Base<T, U>.
//   (2) It specifies int for the first type parameter.
//   (3) For the second type parameter, it uses the same type that is used
//       for the type parameter of the derived class.
// Thus, the derived class is a generic type with one type parameter, but
// its base class is an open constructed type with one type argument and
// one type parameter.
public class Derived<V> : Base<int, V> { }

public class Test
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine(
            "\r\n--- Display a generic type and the open constructed");
        Console.WriteLine("    type from which it is derived.");

        // Create a Type object representing the generic type definition 
        // for the Derived type, by omitting the type argument. (For
        // types with multiple type parameters, supply the commas but
        // omit the type arguments.) 
        //
        Type derivedType = typeof(Derived<>);
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(derivedType);

        // Display its open constructed base type.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(derivedType.BaseType);
    }

    private static void DisplayGenericTypeInfo(Type t)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("\r\n{0}", t);

        Console.WriteLine("\tIs this a generic type definition? {0}", 
            t.IsGenericTypeDefinition);

        Console.WriteLine("\tIs it a generic type? {0}", 
            t.IsGenericType);

        Console.WriteLine("\tDoes it have unassigned generic parameters? {0}", 
            t.ContainsGenericParameters);

        if (t.IsGenericType)
        {
            // If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
            //
            Type[] typeArguments = t.GetGenericArguments();

            Console.WriteLine("\tList type arguments ({0}):", 
                typeArguments.Length);

            foreach (Type tParam in typeArguments)
            {
                // IsGenericParameter is true only for generic type
                // parameters.
                //
                if (tParam.IsGenericParameter)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(
                        "\t\t{0}  (unassigned - parameter position {1})",
                        tParam,
                        tParam.GenericParameterPosition);
                }
                else
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("\t\t{0}", tParam);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

/* This example produces the following output:

--- Display a generic type and the open constructed
    type from which it is derived.

Derived`1[V]
        Is this a generic type definition? True
        Is it a generic type? True
        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
        List type arguments (1):
                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)

Base`2[System.Int32,V]
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? True
        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
        List type arguments (2):
                System.Int32
                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)
 */

open System
open System.Reflection
open System.Collections.Generic

// Define a base class with two type parameters.
type Base<'T, 'U>() = class end

// Define a derived class. The derived class inherits from a constructed
// class that meets the following criteria:
//   (1) Its generic type definition is Base<T, U>.
//   (2) It specifies int for the first type parameter.
//   (3) For the second type parameter, it uses the same type that is used
//       for the type parameter of the derived class.
// Thus, the derived class is a generic type with one type parameter, but
// its base class is an open constructed type with one type argument and
// one type parameter.
type Derived<'V>() = inherit Base<int, 'V>()

let displayGenericTypeInfo (t: Type) =
    printfn $"\n{t}"
    printfn $"\tIs this a generic type definition? {t.IsGenericTypeDefinition}"
    printfn $"\tIs it a generic type? {t.IsGenericType}"
    printfn $"\tDoes it have unassigned generic parameters? {t.ContainsGenericParameters}"

    if t.IsGenericType then
        // If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
        let typeArguments = t.GetGenericArguments()

        printfn $"\tList type arguments ({typeArguments.Length}):"

        for tParam in typeArguments do
            // IsGenericParameter is true only for generic type
            // parameters.
            if tParam.IsGenericParameter then
                printfn $"\t\t{tParam}  (unassigned - parameter position {tParam.GenericParameterPosition})"
            else
                printfn $"\t\t{tParam}"

printfn $"\r\n--- Display a generic type and the open constructed"
printfn $"    type from which it is derived."

// Create a Type object representing the generic type definition 
// for the Derived type, by omitting the type argument. (For
// types with multiple type parameters, supply the commas but
// omit the type arguments.) 
//
let derivedType = (typeof<Derived<_>>).GetGenericTypeDefinition()
displayGenericTypeInfo derivedType

// Display its open constructed base type.
displayGenericTypeInfo derivedType.BaseType

(* This example produces the following output:

--- Display a generic type and the open constructed
    type from which it is derived.

Derived`1[V]
        Is this a generic type definition? True
        Is it a generic type? True
        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
        List type arguments (1):
                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)

Base`2[System.Int32,V]
        Is this a generic type definition? False
        Is it a generic type? True
        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
        List type arguments (2):
                System.Int32
                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)
 *)

Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Collections.Generic

' Define a base class with two type parameters.
Public Class Base(Of T, U)
End Class

' Define a derived class. The derived class inherits from a constructed
' class that meets the following criteria:
'   (1) Its generic type definition is Base<T, U>.
'   (2) It uses int for the first type parameter.
'   (3) For the second type parameter, it uses the same type that is used
'       for the type parameter of the derived class.
' Thus, the derived class is a generic type with one type parameter, but
' its base class is an open constructed type with one assigned type
' parameter and one unassigned type parameter.
Public Class Derived(Of V)
    Inherits Base(Of Integer, V)
End Class

Public Class Test
    
    Public Shared Sub Main() 
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf _
            & "--- Display a generic type and the open constructed")
        Console.WriteLine("    type from which it is derived.")
        
        ' Create a Type object representing the generic type definition 
        ' for the Derived type, by omitting the type argument. (For
        ' types with multiple type parameters, supply the commas but
        ' omit the type arguments.) 
        '
        Dim derivedType As Type = GetType(Derived(Of ))
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(derivedType)
        
        ' Display its open constructed base type.
        DisplayGenericTypeInfo(derivedType.BaseType)
    
    End Sub
    
    Private Shared Sub DisplayGenericTypeInfo(ByVal t As Type) 
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "{0}", t)
        
        Console.WriteLine(vbTab & "Is this a generic type definition? " _
            & t.IsGenericTypeDefinition)
        
        Console.WriteLine(vbTab & "Is it a generic type? " _
            & t.IsGenericType)
        
        Console.WriteLine(vbTab _
            & "Does it have unassigned generic parameters? " _
            & t.ContainsGenericParameters)
        
        If t.IsGenericType Then
            ' If this is a generic type, display the type arguments.
            '
            Dim typeArguments As Type() = t.GetGenericArguments()
            
            Console.WriteLine(vbTab & "List type arguments (" _
                & typeArguments.Length & "):")
            
            For Each tParam As Type In typeArguments
                ' IsGenericParameter is true only for generic type
                ' parameters.
                '
                If tParam.IsGenericParameter Then
                    Console.WriteLine(vbTab & vbTab & tParam.ToString() _
                        & "  (unassigned - parameter position " _
                        & tParam.GenericParameterPosition & ")")
                Else
                    Console.WriteLine(vbTab & vbTab & tParam.ToString())
                End If
            Next tParam
        End If
    
    End Sub
End Class

' This example produces the following output:
'
'--- Display a generic type and the open constructed
'    type from which it is derived.
'
'Derived`1[V]
'        Is this a generic type definition? True
'        Is it a generic type? True
'        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
'        List type arguments (1):
'                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)
'
'Base`2[System.Int32,V]
'        Is this a generic type definition? False
'        Is it a generic type? True
'        Does it have unassigned generic parameters? True
'        List type parameters (2):
'                System.Int32
'                V  (unassigned - parameter position 0)
'

Remarks

The GenericParameterPosition property returns the position of a type parameter in the parameter list of the generic type definition or generic method definition where the type parameter was originally defined. The DeclaringType and DeclaringMethod properties identify the generic type or method definition:

• If the DeclaringMethod property returns a MethodInfo, that MethodInfo represents a generic method definition, and the current Type object represents a type parameter of that generic method definition.

• If the DeclaringMethod property returns null, then the DeclaringType property always returns a Type object representing a generic type definition, and the current Type object represents a type parameter of that generic type definition.

To provide the correct context for the value of the GenericParameterPosition property, it's necessary to identify the generic type or method a type parameter belongs to. For example, consider the return value of the generic method GetSomething in the following code:

generic<typename T, typename U> public ref class B { };
generic<typename V> public ref class A
{
public:
    generic<typename X> B<V, X>^ GetSomething()
    {
        return gcnew B<V, X>();
    }
};

public class B<T, U> { }
public class A<V>
{
    public B<V, X> GetSomething<X>()
    {
        return new B<V, X>();
    }
}

type B<'T, 'U>() = class end
type A<'V>() =
    member _.GetSomething<'X>() =
        B<'V, 'X>()

Public Class B(Of T, U)
End Class
Public Class A(Of V)
    Public Function GetSomething(Of X)() As B(Of V, X)
        Return New B(Of V, X)()
    End Function
End Class

The type returned by GetSomething depends on the type arguments supplied to class A and to GetSomething itself. You can obtain a MethodInfo for GetSomething, and from that you can obtain the return type. When you examine the type parameters of the return type, GenericParameterPosition returns 0 for both. The position of V is 0 because V is the first type parameter in the type parameter list for class A. The position of X is 0 because X is the first type parameter in the type parameter list for GetSomething.

Applies to

See also

• MakeGenericType(Type[])
• ContainsGenericParameters
• IsGenericParameter
• Reflection and Generic Types
• How to: Examine and Instantiate Generic Types with Reflection