Type.GetProperties Method

Definition

Gets the properties of the current Type.

Overloads

GetProperties()

Returns all the public properties of the current Type.

GetProperties(BindingFlags)

When overridden in a derived class, searches for the properties of the current Type, using the specified binding constraints.

GetProperties()

Returns all the public properties of the current Type.

public:
 cli::array <System::Reflection::PropertyInfo ^> ^ GetProperties();
public:
 virtual cli::array <System::Reflection::PropertyInfo ^> ^ GetProperties();
public System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[] GetProperties ();
member this.GetProperties : unit -> System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[]
abstract member GetProperties : unit -> System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[]
override this.GetProperties : unit -> System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[]
Public Function GetProperties () As PropertyInfo()

Returns

An array of PropertyInfo objects representing all public properties of the current Type.

-or-

An empty array of type PropertyInfo, if the current Type does not have public properties.

Implements

Examples

The following example demonstrates the use of the GetProperties method.

array<PropertyInfo^>^myPropertyInfo;

// Get the properties of 'Type' class object.
myPropertyInfo = Type::GetType( "System.Type" )->GetProperties();
Console::WriteLine( "Properties of System.Type are:" );
for ( int i = 0; i < myPropertyInfo->Length; i++ )
{
   Console::WriteLine( myPropertyInfo[ i ] );

}
PropertyInfo[] myPropertyInfo;
// Get the properties of 'Type' class object.
myPropertyInfo = Type.GetType("System.Type").GetProperties();
Console.WriteLine("Properties of System.Type are:");
for (int i = 0; i < myPropertyInfo.Length; i++)
{
    Console.WriteLine(myPropertyInfo[i].ToString());
}
// Get the properties of 'Type' class object.
let myPropertyInfo = Type.GetType("System.Type").GetProperties()
printfn "Properties of System.Type are:"
for pi in myPropertyInfo do
    printfn $"{pi}"
Dim myPropertyInfo() As PropertyInfo
' Get the properties of 'Type' class object.
myPropertyInfo = Type.GetType("System.Type").GetProperties()
Console.WriteLine("Properties of System.Type are:")
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To myPropertyInfo.Length - 1
   Console.WriteLine(myPropertyInfo(i).ToString())
Next i

Remarks

Calling this overload is equivalent to calling the GetProperties(BindingFlags) overload with a bindingAttr argument equal to BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.Public in C# and BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.Static Or BindingFlags.Public in Visual Basic. It returns all public instance and static properties, both those defined by the type represented by the current Type object as well as those inherited from its base types.

A property is considered public to reflection if it has at least one accessor that is public. Otherwise the property is considered private, and you must use BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.Static (in Visual Basic, combine the values using Or) to get it.

In .NET 6 and earlier versions, the GetProperties method does not return properties in a particular order, such as alphabetical or declaration order. Your code must not depend on the order in which properties are returned, because that order varies. However, starting with .NET 7, the ordering is deterministic based upon the metadata ordering in the assembly.

The following table shows what members of a base class are returned by the Get methods when reflecting on a type.

Member Type Static Non-Static
Constructor No No
Field No Yes. A field is always hide-by-name-and-signature.
Event Not applicable The common type system rule is that the inheritance is the same as that of the methods that implement the property. Reflection treats properties as hide-by-name-and-signature. See note 2 below.
Method No Yes. A method (both virtual and non-virtual) can be hide-by-name or hide-by-name-and-signature.
Nested Type No No
Property Not applicable The common type system rule is that the inheritance is the same as that of the methods that implement the property. Reflection treats properties as hide-by-name-and-signature. See note 2 below.
  1. Hide-by-name-and-signature considers all of the parts of the signature, including custom modifiers, return types, parameter types, sentinels, and unmanaged calling conventions. This is a binary comparison.

  2. For reflection, properties and events are hide-by-name-and-signature. If you have a property with both a get and a set accessor in the base class, but the derived class has only a get accessor, the derived class property hides the base class property, and you will not be able to access the setter on the base class.

  3. Custom attributes are not part of the common type system.

If the current Type represents a constructed generic type, this method returns the PropertyInfo objects with the type parameters replaced by the appropriate type arguments.

If the current Type represents a type parameter in the definition of a generic type or generic method, this method searches the properties of the class constraint.

See also

Applies to

GetProperties(BindingFlags)

When overridden in a derived class, searches for the properties of the current Type, using the specified binding constraints.

public:
 abstract cli::array <System::Reflection::PropertyInfo ^> ^ GetProperties(System::Reflection::BindingFlags bindingAttr);
public abstract System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[] GetProperties (System.Reflection.BindingFlags bindingAttr);
abstract member GetProperties : System.Reflection.BindingFlags -> System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[]
Public MustOverride Function GetProperties (bindingAttr As BindingFlags) As PropertyInfo()

Parameters

bindingAttr
BindingFlags

A bitwise combination of the enumeration values that specify how the search is conducted.

-or-

Default to return an empty array.

Returns

An array of objects representing all properties of the current Type that match the specified binding constraints.

-or-

An empty array of type PropertyInfo, if the current Type does not have properties, or if none of the properties match the binding constraints.

Implements

Examples

The following example defines a class named PropertyClass that includes six properties: two are public, one is private, one is protected, one is internal (Friend in Visual Basic), and one is protected internal (Protected Friend in Visual Basic). It then displays some basic property information (the property name and type, whether it's read/write, and the visibility of its get and set accessors) for the properties that match the specified binding constraints.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;

// Create a class having three properties.
public ref class PropertyClass
{

public:
   property String^ Property1
   {
      String^ get()
      {
         return "hello";
      }
   }

   property String^ Property2 
   {
      String^ get()
      {
         return "hello";
      }
   }

protected:
   property String^ Property3
   {
      String^ get()
      {
         return "hello";
      }
   }

private:
   property int Property4
   {
      int get()
      {
         return 32;
      }
   }

internal:
   property String^ Property5
   {
      String^ get()
      {
         return "value";
      }
   }
   
public protected:
   property String^ Property6
   {
      String^ get()
      {
         return "value";
      }
   }
};

String^ GetVisibility(MethodInfo^ accessor)
{
    if (accessor->IsPublic)
       return "Public";
    else if (accessor->IsPrivate)
       return "Private";
    else if (accessor->IsFamily)
       return "Protected";
    else if (accessor->IsAssembly)
       return "Internal/Friend";
    else
       return "Protected Internal/Friend";
}

void DisplayPropertyInfo(array<PropertyInfo^>^ propInfos )
{
   // Display information for all properties.
   for each(PropertyInfo^ propInfo in propInfos) {
      bool readable = propInfo->CanRead;
      bool writable = propInfo->CanWrite;
      
      Console::WriteLine("   Property name: {0}", propInfo->Name);
      Console::WriteLine("   Property type: {0}", propInfo->PropertyType);
      Console::WriteLine("   Read-Write:    {0}", readable && writable);
      if (readable) {
         MethodInfo^ getAccessor = propInfo->GetMethod;
         Console::WriteLine("   Visibility:    {0}",
                           GetVisibility(getAccessor));
      }
      if (writable) {
         MethodInfo^ setAccessor = propInfo->SetMethod;
         Console::WriteLine("   Visibility:    {0}",
                            GetVisibility(setAccessor));
      }
      Console::WriteLine();
   }
}

void main()
{
   Type^ myType = PropertyClass::typeid;
   
   // Get the public properties.
   array<PropertyInfo^>^propInfos = myType->GetProperties( static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::Public | BindingFlags::Instance) );
   Console::WriteLine("The number of public properties: {0}.\n",
                      propInfos->Length);
   // Display the public properties.
   DisplayPropertyInfo( propInfos );
   
   // Get the non-public properties.
   array<PropertyInfo^>^propInfos1 = myType->GetProperties( static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::NonPublic | BindingFlags::Instance) );
   Console::WriteLine("The number of non-public properties: {0}.\n",
                      propInfos1->Length);
   // Display all the non-public properties.
   DisplayPropertyInfo(propInfos1);
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       The number of public properties: 2.
//
//          Property name: Property2
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Public
//
//          Property name: Property1
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Public
//
//       The number of non-public properties: 4.
//
//          Property name: Property6
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Protected Internal/Friend
//
//          Property name: Property5
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Internal/Friend
//
//          Property name: Property4
//          Property type: System.Int32
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Private
//
//          Property name: Property3
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Protected
using System;
using System.Reflection;

// Create a class having six properties.
public class PropertyClass
{
    public String Property1
    {
        get { return "hello"; }
    }

    public String Property2
    {
        get { return "hello"; }
    }

    protected String Property3
    {
        get { return "hello"; }
    }

    private Int32 Property4
    {
        get { return 32; }
    }

    internal String Property5
    {
       get { return "value"; }
    }

    protected internal String Property6
    {
       get { return "value"; }
    }
}

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Type t = typeof(PropertyClass);
        // Get the public properties.
        PropertyInfo[] propInfos = t.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public|BindingFlags.Instance);
        Console.WriteLine("The number of public properties: {0}.\n",
                          propInfos.Length);
        // Display the public properties.
        DisplayPropertyInfo(propInfos);

        // Get the nonpublic properties.
        PropertyInfo[] propInfos1 = t.GetProperties(BindingFlags.NonPublic|BindingFlags.Instance);
        Console.WriteLine("The number of non-public properties: {0}.\n",
                          propInfos1.Length);
        // Display all the nonpublic properties.
        DisplayPropertyInfo(propInfos1);
    }

    public static void DisplayPropertyInfo(PropertyInfo[] propInfos)
    {
        // Display information for all properties.
        foreach (var propInfo in propInfos) {
            bool readable = propInfo.CanRead;
            bool writable = propInfo.CanWrite;

            Console.WriteLine("   Property name: {0}", propInfo.Name);
            Console.WriteLine("   Property type: {0}", propInfo.PropertyType);
            Console.WriteLine("   Read-Write:    {0}", readable & writable);
            if (readable) {
               MethodInfo getAccessor = propInfo.GetMethod;
               Console.WriteLine("   Visibility:    {0}",
                                 GetVisibility(getAccessor));
            }
            if (writable) {
               MethodInfo setAccessor = propInfo.SetMethod;
               Console.WriteLine("   Visibility:    {0}",
                                 GetVisibility(setAccessor));
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
    }

    public static String GetVisibility(MethodInfo accessor)
    {
       if (accessor.IsPublic)
          return "Public";
       else if (accessor.IsPrivate)
          return "Private";
       else if (accessor.IsFamily)
          return "Protected";
       else if (accessor.IsAssembly)
          return "Internal/Friend";
       else
          return "Protected Internal/Friend";
    }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       The number of public properties: 2.
//
//          Property name: Property1
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Public
//
//          Property name: Property2
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Public
//
//       The number of non-public properties: 4.
//
//          Property name: Property3
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Protected
//
//          Property name: Property4
//          Property type: System.Int32
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Private
//
//          Property name: Property5
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Internal/Friend
//
//          Property name: Property6
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Protected Internal/Friend
open System.Reflection

// Create a class having four properties.
type PropertyClass() =
    member _.Property1 = 
        "hello"

    member _.Property2 = 
        "hello"

    member private _.Property3 = 
        32

    member internal _.Property4 =
       "value"

let getVisibility (accessor: MethodInfo) =
    if accessor.IsPublic then
        "Public"
    elif accessor.IsPrivate then
        "Private"
    elif accessor.IsFamily then
        "Protected"
    elif accessor.IsAssembly then
        "Internal/Friend"
    else
        "Protected Internal/Friend"

let displayPropertyInfo (propInfos: #seq<PropertyInfo>) = 
    // Display information for all properties.
    for propInfo in propInfos do
        let readable = propInfo.CanRead
        let writable = propInfo.CanWrite

        printfn $"   Property name: {propInfo.Name}"
        printfn $"   Property type: {propInfo.PropertyType}"
        printfn $"   Read-Write:    {readable && writable}"
        if readable then
            let getAccessor = propInfo.GetMethod
            printfn $"   Visibility:    {getVisibility getAccessor}"
        if writable then
            let setAccessor = propInfo.SetMethod
            printfn $"   Visibility:    {getVisibility setAccessor}"
        printfn ""

let t = typeof<PropertyClass>
// Get the public properties.
let propInfos = t.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public ||| BindingFlags.Instance)
printfn $"The number of public properties: {propInfos.Length}.\n"
// Display the public properties.
displayPropertyInfo propInfos

// Get the nonpublic properties.
let propInfos1 = t.GetProperties(BindingFlags.NonPublic ||| BindingFlags.Instance)
printfn $"The number of non-public properties: {propInfos1.Length}.\n"
// Display all the nonpublic properties.
displayPropertyInfo propInfos1

// The example displays the following output:
//       The number of public properties: 2.
//
//          Property name: Property1
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Public
//
//          Property name: Property2
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Public
//
//       The number of non-public properties: 2.
//
//          Property name: Property3
//          Property type: System.Int32
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Private
//
//          Property name: Property4
//          Property type: System.String
//          Read-Write:    False
//          Visibility:    Internal/Friend
Imports System.Reflection

' Create a class having six properties.
Public Class PropertyClass
    Public ReadOnly Property Property1() As String
        Get
            Return "hello"
        End Get
    End Property

    Public ReadOnly Property Property2() As String
        Get
            Return "hello"
        End Get
    End Property

    Protected ReadOnly Property Property3() As String
        Get
            Return "hello"
        End Get
    End Property

    Private ReadOnly Property Property4 As Integer
        Get
           Return 32
        End Get
    End Property

    Friend ReadOnly Property Property5 As String
       Get
          Return "value"
       End Get
    End Property

    Protected Friend ReadOnly Property Property6 As String
       Get
          Return "value"
       End Get
    End Property
End Class

Public Module Example
    Public Sub Main()
        Dim t As Type = GetType(PropertyClass)
        ' Get the public properties.
        Dim propInfos As PropertyInfo() = t.GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public Or BindingFlags.Instance)
        Console.WriteLine("The number of public properties: {0}",
                          propInfos.Length)
        Console.WriteLine()
        ' Display the public properties.
        DisplayPropertyInfo(propInfos)

        ' Get the non-public properties.
        Dim propInfos1 As PropertyInfo() = t.GetProperties(BindingFlags.NonPublic Or BindingFlags.Instance)
        Console.WriteLine("The number of non-public properties: {0}",
                          propInfos1.Length)
        Console.WriteLine()
        ' Display all the non-public properties.
        DisplayPropertyInfo(propInfos1)
    End Sub

    Public Sub DisplayPropertyInfo(ByVal propInfos() As PropertyInfo)
        ' Display information for all properties.
        For Each propInfo In propInfos
            Dim readable As Boolean = propInfo.CanRead
            Dim writable As Boolean = propInfo.CanWrite
            
            Console.WriteLine("   Property name: {0}", propInfo.Name)
            Console.WriteLine("   Property type: {0}", propInfo.PropertyType)
            Console.WriteLine("   Read-Write:    {0}", readable And writable)
            If readable Then
               Dim getAccessor As MethodInfo = propInfo.GetMethod
               Console.WriteLine("   Visibility:    {0}",
                                 GetVisibility(getAccessor))
            End If
            If writable Then
               Dim setAccessor As MethodInfo = propInfo.SetMethod
               Console.WriteLine("   Visibility:    {0}",
                                 GetVisibility(setAccessor))
            End If
            Console.WriteLine()
        Next
    End Sub
    
    Public Function GetVisibility(accessor As MethodInfo) As String
       If accessor.IsPublic Then
          Return "Public"
       ElseIf accessor.IsPrivate Then
          Return "Private"
       Else If accessor.IsFamily Then
          Return "Protected"
       Else If accessor.IsAssembly Then
          Return "Internal/Friend"
       Else
          Return "Protected Internal/Friend"
       End If
    End Function
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'       The number of public properties: 2
'
'          Property name: Property1
'          Property type: System.String
'          Read-Write:    False
'          Visibility:    Public
'
'          Property name: Property2
'          Property type: System.String
'          Read-Write:    False
'          Visibility:    Public
'
'       The number of non-public properties: 4
'
'          Property name: Property3
'          Property type: System.String
'          Read-Write:    False
'          Visibility:    Protected
'
'          Property name: Property4
'          Property type: System.Int32
'          Read-Write:    False
'          Visibility:    Private
'
'          Property name: Property5
'          Property type: System.String
'          Read-Write:    False
'          Visibility:    Internal/Friend
'
'          Property name: Property6
'          Property type: System.String
'          Read-Write:    False
'          Visibility:    Protected Internal/Friend

Remarks

For the GetProperties(BindingFlags) overload to successfully retrieve property information, the bindingAttr argument must include at least one of BindingFlags.Instance and BindingFlags.Static, along with at least one of BindingFlags.NonPublic and BindingFlags.Public.

The following BindingFlags filter flags can be used to define which properties to include in the search:

  • Specify BindingFlags.Instance to include instance methods.

  • Specify BindingFlags.Static to include static methods.

  • Specify BindingFlags.Public to include public properties in the search. A property is considered public to reflection if it has at least one accessor that is public.

  • Specify BindingFlags.NonPublic to include non-public properties (that is, private, internal, and protected properties) in the search. Only protected and internal properties on base classes are returned; private properties on base classes are not returned.

  • Specify BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy to include public and protected static members up the hierarchy; private static members in inherited classes are not included.

  • Specify BindingFlags.Default alone to return an empty PropertyInfo array.

The following BindingFlags modifier flags can be used to change how the search works:

  • BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly to search only the properties declared on the Type, not properties that were simply inherited.

See System.Reflection.BindingFlags for more information.

In .NET 6 and earlier versions, the GetProperties method does not return properties in a particular order, such as alphabetical or declaration order. Your code must not depend on the order in which properties are returned, because that order varies. However, starting with .NET 7, the ordering is deterministic based upon the metadata ordering in the assembly.

If the current Type represents a constructed generic type, this method returns the PropertyInfo objects with the type parameters replaced by the appropriate type arguments.

If the current Type represents a type parameter in the definition of a generic type or generic method, this method searches the properties of the class constraint.

See also

Applies to