How to convert my class to dynamic type <T> by using generics

Question

I have a function as below.

private IList<ContactList> getEmptyRow()
{
    var _ContactList = new List<ContactList>();
    _ContactList.Add(new ContactList()
    {
        Email = string.Empty,
        Name = string.Empty
    });

    return _ContactList;
}

I would like to change my class ContactList to

private IList<T> getEmptyRow() {  ..... T.Add(new T()....

Is this possible ? and how ?
Every suggestion will be appreciated.

Answer 1

Something like this perhaps?

public interface IPerson
{ 
    string Email {get;set;}
    string Name {get;set;}
}

public class SomeClass
{
    private IList<T> getEmptyRow<T>() where T : IPerson, new()
    {
        var t = new List<T>();
        t.Add(new T()
        {
            Email = string.Empty,
            Name = string.Empty
        });

        return t;
    }
}

You need an interface or base class so you can set the public properties Email and Name and you need the new() constraint so you can use the default constructor.