When you implement two interfaces with the same method, how do you know which one is called?

Question

If you have TheMethod() in interfaces I1 and I2, and the following class

class TheClass : I1, I2
{
    void TheMethod()
}

If something instantiates TheClass, how does it know which interface it is using?

Answer 1

If that's how the client code is using the class, it doesn't really matter. If it needs to do something interface specific, it should declare the interface it needs, and assign the class to that e.g.

I1 i = new TheClass()
i.TheMethod();

Of course, using your current implementation TheClass, it doesn't matter if declared i as I1, or I2, as you only have a single implementation.

If you want a separate implementation per interface, then you need to create explicit implementations ...

    void I1.TheMethod()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("I1");
    }

    void I2.TheMethod()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("I2");
    }

But keep in mind, explicit implementations cannot be public. You can implement just one explicitly, and leave the other as the default which can be public.

    void I1.TheMethod()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("I1");
    }

    public void TheMethod()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Default");
    }

Have a look the msdn article for more details.