C# Generic interface

Question

I need to pass a generic type parameter to an interface. I have a string with the name of the type.

I have something like this:

string type = "ClassType";
Type t = Type.GetType("ClassType");

IProvider<t> provider = (IProvider<t>)someObject;

This doesn't work for me. What is the correct way to do it? Thanks.

Answer 1

What' you're trying to do is not really possible in the C# (and CLR) version of generics. When specifying a generic parameter it must be either ...

• A Concrete type in code
• Another generic parameter

This information must be bound in the metadata of the assembly. There is no way to express a type name from string in metadata in this fashion.

It is possible to bind a generic at runtime based on string names but this requires reflection.

Answer 2

I believe this is what you are looking for =>Type.MakeGenericType