How to use the "is" operator in System.Type variables?

Question

here is what a I'm doing:

object ReturnMatch(System.Type type)  
{  
    foreach(object obj in myObjects)  
    {
        if (obj == type)  
        {  
            return obj;  
        }  
    }  
}  

However, if obj is a subclass of type, it will not match. But I would like the function to return the same way as if I was using the operator is.

I tried the following, but it won't compile:

if (obj is type) // won't compile in C# 2.0  

The best solution I came up with was:

if (obj.GetType().Equals(type) || obj.GetType().IsSubclassOf(type))  

Isn't there a way to use operator is to make the code cleaner?

Answer 1

I've used the IsAssignableFrom method when faced with this problem.

Type theTypeWeWant; // From argument or whatever
foreach (object o in myCollection)
{
    if (theTypeWeWant.IsAssignableFrom(o.GetType))
         return o;
}

Another approach that may or may not work with your problem is to use a generic method:

private T FindObjectOfType<T>() where T: class
{
    foreach(object o in myCollection)
    {
        if (o is T)
             return (T) o;
    }
    return null;
}

(Code written from memory and is not tested)

Answer 2

Not using the is operator, but the Type.IsInstanceOfType Method appears to be what you're looking for.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.type.isinstanceoftype.aspx

Answer 3

Perhaps

type.IsAssignableFrom(obj.GetType())