C# Create New T()

Question

Take a look at new Constraint

public class MyClass<T> where T : new()
{
    protected T GetObject()
    {
        return new T();
    }
}

T could be a class that does not have a default constructor: in this case new T() would be an invalid statement. The new() constraint says that T must have a default constructor, which makes new T() legal.

You can apply the same constraint to a generic method:

public static T GetObject<T>() where T : new()
{
    return new T();
}

If you need to pass parameters:

protected T GetObject(params object[] args)
{
    return (T)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(T), args);
}

Why hasn't anyone suggested Activator.CreateInstance ?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wccyzw83.aspx

T obj = (T)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(T));

Another way is to use reflection:

protected T GetObject<T>(Type[] signature, object[] args)
{
    return (T)typeof(T).GetConstructor(signature).Invoke(args);
}

The new constraint is fine, but if you need T being a value type too, use this:

protected T GetObject() {
    if (typeof(T).IsValueType || typeof(T) == typeof(string)) {
        return default(T);
    } else {
       return (T)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(T));
    }
}

Just for completion, the best solution here is often to require a factory function argument:

T GetObject<T>(Func<T> factory)
{  return factory(); }

and call it something like this:

string s = GetObject(() => "result");

You can use that to require or make use of available parameters, if needed.

Since this is tagged C# 4. With the open sourece framework ImpromptuIntereface it will use the dlr to call the constructor it is significantly faster than Activator when your constructor has arguments, and negligibly slower when it doesn't. However the main advantage is that it will handle constructors with C# 4.0 optional parameters correctly, something that Activator won't do.

protected T GetObject(params object[] args)
{
    return (T)Impromptu.InvokeConstructor(typeof(T), args);
}