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.NET Framework 3.5
 BindingFlags Enumeration

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This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
BindingFlags Enumeration

Specifies flags that control binding and the way in which the search for members and types is conducted by reflection.

This enumeration has a FlagsAttribute attribute that allows a bitwise combination of its member values.

Namespace:  System.Reflection
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
Visual Basic (Declaration)
<SerializableAttribute> _
<FlagsAttribute> _
<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
Public Enumeration BindingFlags
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As BindingFlags
C#
[SerializableAttribute]
[FlagsAttribute]
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)]
public enum BindingFlags
Visual C++
[SerializableAttribute]
[FlagsAttribute]
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)]
public enum class BindingFlags
JScript
public enum BindingFlags
Member nameDescription
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkDefault Specifies no binding flag.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkIgnoreCase Specifies that the case of the member name should not be considered when binding.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkDeclaredOnly Specifies that only members declared at the level of the supplied type's hierarchy should be considered. Inherited members are not considered.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkInstance Specifies that instance members are to be included in the search.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkStatic Specifies that static members are to be included in the search.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkPublic Specifies that public members are to be included in the search.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkNonPublic Specifies that non-public members are to be included in the search.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkFlattenHierarchy Specifies that public and protected static members up the hierarchy should be returned. Private static members in inherited classes are not returned. Static members include fields, methods, events, and properties. Nested types are not returned.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkInvokeMethod Specifies that a method is to be invoked. This must not be a constructor or a type initializer.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkCreateInstance Specifies that Reflection should create an instance of the specified type. Calls the constructor that matches the given arguments. The supplied member name is ignored. If the type of lookup is not specified, (Instance | Public) will apply. It is not possible to call a type initializer.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkGetField Specifies that the value of the specified field should be returned.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkSetField Specifies that the value of the specified field should be set.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkGetProperty Specifies that the value of the specified property should be returned.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkSetProperty Specifies that the value of the specified property should be set. For COM properties, specifying this binding flag is equivalent to specifying PutDispProperty and PutRefDispProperty.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkPutDispProperty Specifies that the PROPPUT member on a COM object should be invoked. PROPPUT specifies a property-setting function that uses a value. Use PutDispProperty if a property has both PROPPUT and PROPPUTREF and you need to distinguish which one is called.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkPutRefDispProperty Specifies that the PROPPUTREF member on a COM object should be invoked. PROPPUTREF specifies a property-setting function that uses a reference instead of a value. Use PutRefDispProperty if a property has both PROPPUT and PROPPUTREF and you need to distinguish which one is called.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkExactBinding Specifies that types of the supplied arguments must exactly match the types of the corresponding formal parameters. Reflection throws an exception if the caller supplies a non-null Binder object, since that implies that the caller is supplying BindToXXX implementations that will pick the appropriate method.

Reflection models the accessibility rules of the common type system. For example, if the caller is in the same assembly, the caller does not need special permissions for internal members. Otherwise, the caller needs ReflectionPermission. This is consistent with lookup of members that are protected, private, and so on.

The general principle is that ChangeType should perform only widening coercions, which never lose data. An example of a widening coercion is coercing a value that is a 32-bit signed integer to a value that is a 64-bit signed integer. This is distinguished from a narrowing coercion, which may lose data. An example of a narrowing coercion is coercing a 64-bit signed integer to a 32-bit signed integer.

The default binder ignores this flag, while custom binders can implement the semantics of this flag.

Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkSuppressChangeType Not implemented.
Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkOptionalParamBinding Returns the set of members whose parameter count matches the number of supplied arguments. This binding flag is used for methods with parameters that have default values and methods with variable arguments (varargs). This flag should only be used with Type..::.InvokeMember.

Parameters with default values are used only in calls where trailing arguments are omitted. They must be the last arguments.

Supported by the .NET Compact FrameworkSupported by the XNA FrameworkIgnoreReturn Used in COM interop to specify that the return value of the member can be ignored.

These BindingFlags control binding for a great many classes in the System, System.Reflection, and System.Runtime namespaces that invoke, create, get, set, and find members and types.

BindingFlags are used in the following Type methods and other places such as MethodBase..::.Invoke :

InvokeMember and GetMethod are especially important.

The binding flags can be categorized by how they identify a type member, as listed in the following table.

Identified by Accessibility

Identified by Binding Argument

Identified by Operation

DeclaredOnly

FlattenHierarchy

IgnoreCase

IgnoreReturn

Instance

NonPublic

Public

Static

ExactBinding

OptionalParamBinding

CreateInstance

GetField

SetField

GetProperty

SetProperty

InvokeMethod

PutDispProperty

PutRefDispProperty

NoteNote:

You must specify Instance or Static along with Public or NonPublic or no members will be returned.

The following table lists the coercions performed by the default Binder..::.ChangeType. This table applies especially to the ExactBinding binding flag.

Source Type

Target Type

Any type

Its base type.

Any type

The interface it implements.

Char

UInt16, UInt32, Int32, UInt64, Int64, Single, Double

Byte

Char, UInt16, Int16, UInt32, Int32, UInt64, Int64, Single, Double

SByte

Int16, Int32, Int64, Single, Double

UInt16

UInt32, Int32, UInt64, Int64, Single, Double

Int16

Int32, Int64, Single, Double

UInt32

UInt64, Int64, Single, Double

Int32

Int64, Single, Double

UInt64

Single, Double

Int64

Single, Double

Single

Double

Non-reference

By-reference.

The following example demonstrates each binding flag.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.IO

Class Invoke

    Public Shared Sub Main()
        ' BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
        ' Call a static method.
        Dim t As Type = GetType(TestClass)

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking a static method.")
        Console.WriteLine("-------------------------")
        t.InvokeMember("SayHello", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod Or BindingFlags.Public Or BindingFlags.Static, Nothing, Nothing, New Object() {})

        ' BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
        ' Call an instance method.
        Dim c As New TestClass()
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking an instance method.")
        Console.WriteLine("----------------------------")
        c.GetType().InvokeMember("AddUp", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, c, New Object() {})
        c.GetType().InvokeMember("AddUp", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, c, New Object() {})

        ' BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
        ' Call a method with parameters.
        Dim args() As Object = {100.09, 184.45}
        Dim result As Object
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking a method with parameters.")
        Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------")
        result = t.InvokeMember("ComputeSum", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, Nothing, args)
        Console.WriteLine("{0} + {1} = {2}", args(0), args(1), result)

        ' BindingFlags.GetField, SetField
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking a field (getting and setting.)")
        Console.WriteLine("--------------------------------------")
        ' Get a field value.
        result = t.InvokeMember("Name", BindingFlags.GetField, Nothing, c, New Object() {})
        Console.WriteLine("Name == {0}", result)
        ' Set a field.
        t.InvokeMember("Name", BindingFlags.SetField, Nothing, c, New Object() {"NewName"})
        result = t.InvokeMember("Name", BindingFlags.GetField, Nothing, c, New Object() {})
        Console.WriteLine("Name == {0}", result)

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking an indexed property (getting and setting.)")
        Console.WriteLine("--------------------------------------------------")
        ' BindingFlags.GetProperty 
        ' Get an indexed property value.
        Dim index As Integer = 3
        result = t.InvokeMember("Item", BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, c, New Object() {index})
        Console.WriteLine("Item[{0}] == {1}", index, result)
        ' BindingFlags.SetProperty
        ' Set an indexed property value.
        index = 3
        t.InvokeMember("Item", BindingFlags.SetProperty, Nothing, c, New Object() {index, "NewValue"})
        result = t.InvokeMember("Item", BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, c, New Object() {index})
        Console.WriteLine("Item[{0}] == {1}", index, result)

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Getting a field or property.")
        Console.WriteLine("----------------------------")
        ' BindingFlags.GetField
        ' Get a field or property.
        result = t.InvokeMember("Name", BindingFlags.GetField Or BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, c, New Object() {})
        Console.WriteLine("Name == {0}", result)
        ' BindingFlags.GetProperty
        result = t.InvokeMember("Value", BindingFlags.GetField Or BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, c, New Object() {})
        Console.WriteLine("Value == {0}", result)

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking a method with named parameters.")
        Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------------")
        ' BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
        ' Call a method using named parameters.
        Dim argValues() As Object = {"Mouse", "Micky"}
        Dim argNames() As [String] = {"lastName", "firstName"}
        t.InvokeMember("PrintName", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, Nothing, argValues, Nothing, Nothing, argNames)

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking a default member of a type.")
        Console.WriteLine("------------------------------------")
        ' BindingFlags.Default
        ' Call the default member of a type.
        Dim t3 As Type = GetType(TestClass2)
        t3.InvokeMember("", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod Or BindingFlags.Default, Nothing, New TestClass2(), New Object() {})

        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking a method by reference.")
        Console.WriteLine("-------------------------------")
        ' BindingFlags.Static, NonPublic, and Public
        ' Invoking a member by reference.
        Dim m As MethodInfo = t.GetMethod("Swap")
        args = New Object(1) {}
        args(0) = 1
        args(1) = 2
        m.Invoke(New TestClass(), args)
        Console.WriteLine("{0}, {1}", args(0), args(1))
        ' The string is case-sensitive.
        Dim t4 As Type = System.Type.GetType("System.String")

        ' Check to see if the value is valid. If the object is null, the type does not exist.
        If t4 Is Nothing Then
            Console.WriteLine("Please ensure that you specify only valid types in the type field.")
            Console.WriteLine("The type name is case-sensitive.")
            Return
        End If
        ' Declare and populate the arrays to hold the information.
        ' You must declare either NonPublic or Public with Static or the search will not work.
        Dim fi As FieldInfo() = t4.GetFields((BindingFlags.Static Or BindingFlags.NonPublic Or BindingFlags.Public))
        ' BindingFlags.NonPublic 
        Dim miNonPublic As MethodInfo() = t4.GetMethods((BindingFlags.Static Or BindingFlags.NonPublic))
        ' BindingFlags.Public
        Dim miPublic As MethodInfo() = t4.GetMethods((BindingFlags.Static Or BindingFlags.Public))

        ' Iterate through all the nonpublic methods.
        Dim method As MethodInfo
        For Each method In miNonPublic
            Console.WriteLine(method)
        Next method
        ' Iterate through all the public methods.
        For Each method In miPublic
            Console.WriteLine(method)
        Next method
        ' Iterate through all the fields.
        Dim f As FieldInfo
        For Each f In fi
            Console.WriteLine(f)
        Next f

        ' Call an instance method.
        Dim tc As New TestClass()
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking an Instance method.")
        Console.WriteLine("----------------------------")
        tc.GetType().InvokeMember("AddUp", BindingFlags.Public Or BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.CreateInstance, Nothing, tc, New Object() {})

        ' BindingFlags.CreateInstance
        ' Calling and creating an instance method.
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking and creating an instance method.")
        Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------")
        tc.GetType().InvokeMember("AddUp", BindingFlags.Public Or BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.CreateInstance, Nothing, tc, New Object() {})

        ' BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly
        Dim tc2 As New TestClass()
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("DeclaredOnly members")
        Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------")
        Dim memInfo As System.Reflection.MemberInfo() = tc2.GetType().GetMembers(BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly)
        Dim i As Integer
        For i = 0 To memInfo.Length - 1
            Console.WriteLine(memInfo(i).Name)
        Next i

        ' BindingFlags.SuppressChangeType
        Dim obj As New TestClass()
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Invoking static method - PrintName")
        Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------")
        Dim methInfo As System.Reflection.MethodInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName")
        methInfo.Invoke(obj, BindingFlags.SuppressChangeType Or BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, New Object() {"Brad", "Smith"}, Nothing)

        ' BindingFlags.IgnoreCase
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Using IgnoreCase and invoking the PrintName method.")
        Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------------------------")
        methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName")
        methInfo.Invoke(obj, BindingFlags.IgnoreCase Or BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, New Object() {"brad", "smith"}, Nothing)

        ' BindingFlags.IgnoreReturn
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Using IgnoreReturn and invoking the PrintName method.")
        Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------------")
        methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName")
        methInfo.Invoke(obj, BindingFlags.IgnoreReturn Or BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, New Object() {"Brad", "Smith"}, Nothing)

        ' BindingFlags.OptionalParamBinding
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Using OptionalParamBinding and invoking the PrintName method.")
        Console.WriteLine("-------------------------------------------------------------")
        methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName")
        methInfo.Invoke(obj, BindingFlags.OptionalParamBinding Or BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, New Object() {"Brad", "Smith"}, Nothing)

        ' BindingFlags.ExactBinding
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Using ExactBinding and invoking the PrintName method.")
        Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------------")
        methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName")
        methInfo.Invoke(obj, BindingFlags.ExactBinding Or BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, New Object() {"Brad", "Smith"}, Nothing)

        ' BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy
        Console.WriteLine()
        Console.WriteLine("Using FlattenHierarchy and invoking the PrintName method.")
        Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------------------------------")
        methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName")
        methInfo.Invoke(obj, BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy Or BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, New Object() {"Brad", "Smith"}, Nothing)
    End Sub
End Class

Public Class TestClass
    Public Name As [String]
    Private values() As [Object] = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}


    Default Public Property Item(ByVal index As Integer) As [Object]
        Get
            Return values(index)
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As [Object])
            values(index) = Value
        End Set
    End Property


    Public ReadOnly Property Value() As [Object]
        Get
            Return "the value"
        End Get
    End Property


    Public Sub New()
        Name = "initialName"
    End Sub 'New

    Private methodCalled As Integer = 0


    Public Shared Sub SayHello()
        Console.WriteLine("Hello")
    End Sub 'SayHello


    Public Sub AddUp()
        methodCalled += 1
        Console.WriteLine("AddUp Called {0} times", methodCalled)
    End Sub 'AddUp


    Public Shared Function ComputeSum(ByVal d1 As Double, ByVal d2 As Double) As Double
        Return d1 + d2
    End Function 'ComputeSum


    Public Shared Sub PrintName(ByVal firstName As [String], ByVal lastName As [String])
        Console.WriteLine("{0},{1}", lastName, firstName)
    End Sub 'PrintName


    Public Sub PrintTime()
        Console.WriteLine(DateTime.Now)
    End Sub 'PrintTime


    Public Sub Swap(ByRef a As Integer, ByRef b As Integer)
        Dim x As Integer = a
        a = b
        b = x
    End Sub
End Class

<DefaultMemberAttribute("PrintTime")> _
Public Class TestClass2

    Public Sub PrintTime()
        Console.WriteLine(DateTime.Now)
    End Sub 'PrintTime
End Class

C#
using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.IO;

namespace BindingFlagsSnippet
{
    class EntryPoint
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Invoke.Go();
        }
    }


    class Invoke
    {
        public static void Go()
        {
            // BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
            // Call a static method.
            Type t = typeof (TestClass);

            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking a static method.");
            Console.WriteLine("-------------------------");
            t.InvokeMember ("SayHello", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod | BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Static, null, null, new object [] {});

            // BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
            // Call an instance method.
            TestClass c = new TestClass ();
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking an instance method.");
            Console.WriteLine("----------------------------");
            c.GetType().InvokeMember ("AddUp", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, c, new object [] {});
            c.GetType().InvokeMember ("AddUp", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, c, new object [] {});

            // BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
            // Call a method with parameters.
            object [] args = new object [] {100.09, 184.45};
            object result;
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking a method with parameters.");
            Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------");
            result = t.InvokeMember ("ComputeSum", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, null, args);
            Console.WriteLine ("{0} + {1} = {2}", args[0], args[1], result);

            // BindingFlags.GetField, SetField
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking a field (getting and setting.)");
            Console.WriteLine("--------------------------------------");
            // Get a field value.
            result = t.InvokeMember ("Name", BindingFlags.GetField, null, c, new object [] {});
            Console.WriteLine ("Name == {0}", result);
            // Set a field.
            t.InvokeMember ("Name", BindingFlags.SetField, null, c, new object [] {"NewName"});
            result = t.InvokeMember ("Name", BindingFlags.GetField, null, c, new object [] {});
            Console.WriteLine ("Name == {0}", result);

            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking an indexed property (getting and setting.)");
            Console.WriteLine("--------------------------------------------------");
            // BindingFlags.GetProperty
            // Get an indexed property value.
            int  index = 3;
            result = t.InvokeMember ("Item", BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, c, new object [] {index});
            Console.WriteLine ("Item[{0}] == {1}", index, result);
            // BindingFlags.SetProperty
            // Set an indexed property value.
            index = 3;
            t.InvokeMember ("Item", BindingFlags.SetProperty, null, c, new object [] {index, "NewValue"});
            result = t.InvokeMember ("Item", BindingFlags.GetProperty , null, c, new object [] {index});
            Console.WriteLine ("Item[{0}] == {1}", index, result);

            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Getting a field or property.");
            Console.WriteLine("----------------------------");
            // BindingFlags.GetField
            // Get a field or property.
            result = t.InvokeMember ("Name", BindingFlags.GetField | BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, c, new object [] {});
            Console.WriteLine ("Name == {0}", result);
            // BindingFlags.GetProperty
            result = t.InvokeMember ("Value", BindingFlags.GetField | BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, c, new object [] {});
            Console.WriteLine ("Value == {0}", result);

            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking a method with named parameters.");
            Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------------");
            // BindingFlags.InvokeMethod
            // Call a method using named parameters.
            object[] argValues = new object [] {"Mouse", "Micky"};
            String [] argNames = new String [] {"lastName", "firstName"};
            t.InvokeMember ("PrintName", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, null, argValues, null, null, argNames);

            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking a default member of a type.");
            Console.WriteLine("------------------------------------");
            // BindingFlags.Default
            // Call the default member of a type.
            Type t3 = typeof (TestClass2);
            t3.InvokeMember ("", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod | BindingFlags.Default, null, new TestClass2(), new object [] {});

            // BindingFlags.Static, NonPublic, and Public
            // Invoking a member by reference.
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking a method by reference.");
            Console.WriteLine("-------------------------------");
            MethodInfo m = t.GetMethod("Swap");
            args = new object[2];
            args[0] = 1;
            args[1] = 2;
            m.Invoke(new TestClass(),args);
            Console.WriteLine ("{0}, {1}", args[0], args[1]);
            // The string is case-sensitive.
            Type type = Type.GetType("System.String");

            // Check to see if the value is valid. If the object is null, the type does not exist.
            if (type == null)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Please ensure that you specify only valid types in the type field.");
                Console.WriteLine("The type name is case-sensitive.");
                return;
            }
            // Declare and populate the arrays to hold the information.
            // You must declare either NonPublic or Public with Static or the search will not work.
            FieldInfo [] fi = type.GetFields (BindingFlags.Static |
                BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Public);
            // BindingFlags.NonPublic
            MethodInfo [] miNonPublic = type.GetMethods (BindingFlags.Static |
                BindingFlags.NonPublic);
            // BindingFlags.Public
            MethodInfo [] miPublic = type.GetMethods (BindingFlags.Static |
                BindingFlags.Public);

            // Iterate through all the nonpublic methods.
            foreach (MethodInfo method in miNonPublic)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(method);
            }
            // Iterate through all the public methods.
            foreach (MethodInfo method in miPublic)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(method);
            }
            // Iterate through all the fields.
            foreach (FieldInfo f in fi)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(f);
            }

            // BindingFlags.Instance
            // Call an instance method.
            TestClass tc = new TestClass ();
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking an Instance method.");
            Console.WriteLine("----------------------------");
            tc.GetType().InvokeMember ("AddUp", BindingFlags.Public |
                BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.CreateInstance,
                null, tc, new object [] {});

            // BindingFlags.CreateInstance
            // Calling and creating an instance method.
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking and creating an instance method.");
            Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------");
            tc.GetType().InvokeMember ("AddUp", BindingFlags.Public |
                BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.CreateInstance,
                null, tc, new object [] {});

            // BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly
            TestClass tc2 = new TestClass();
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("DeclaredOnly members");
            Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------");
            System.Reflection.MemberInfo[] memInfo =
                tc2.GetType().GetMembers(BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly);
            for(int i=0;i<memInfo.Length;i++)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(memInfo[i].Name);
            }

            // BindingFlags.SuppressChangeType
            TestClass obj = new TestClass();
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Invoking static method - PrintName");
            Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------");
            System.Reflection.MethodInfo methInfo =
                obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName");
            methInfo.Invoke(obj,BindingFlags.SuppressChangeType |
                BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null,new object[]
                {"Brad","Smith"},null);

            // BindingFlags.IgnoreCase
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Using IgnoreCase and invoking the PrintName method.");
            Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------------------------");
            methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName");
            methInfo.Invoke(obj,BindingFlags.IgnoreCase |
                BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null,new object[]
                {"brad","smith"},null);

            // BindingFlags.IgnoreReturn
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Using IgnoreReturn and invoking the PrintName method.");
            Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------------");
            methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName");
            methInfo.Invoke(obj,BindingFlags.IgnoreReturn |
                BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null,new object[]
                {"Brad","Smith"},null);

            // BindingFlags.OptionalParamBinding
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Using OptionalParamBinding and invoking the PrintName method.");
            Console.WriteLine("-------------------------------------------------------------");
            methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName");
            methInfo.Invoke(obj,BindingFlags.OptionalParamBinding |
                BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null,new object[]
                {"Brad","Smith"},null);

            // BindingFlags.ExactBinding
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Using ExactBinding and invoking the PrintName method.");
            Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------------");
            methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName");
            methInfo.Invoke(obj,BindingFlags.ExactBinding |
                BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null,new object[]
                {"Brad","Smith"},null);

            // BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy
            Console.WriteLine();
            Console.WriteLine("Using FlattenHierarchy and invoking the PrintName method.");
            Console.WriteLine("---------------------------------------------------------");
            methInfo = obj.GetType().GetMethod("PrintName");
            methInfo.Invoke(obj,BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy |
                BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null,new object[]
                {"Brad","Smith"},null);
        }
    }

    public class TestClass
    {
        public String Name;
        private Object [] values = new Object [] {0, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};

        public Object this [int index]
        {
            get
            {
                return values[index];
            }
            set
            {
                values[index] = value;
            }
        }

        public Object Value
        {
            get
            {
                return "the value";
            }
        }

        public TestClass ()
        {
            Name = "initialName";
        }

        int methodCalled = 0;

        public static void SayHello ()
        {
            Console.WriteLine ("Hello");
        }

        public void AddUp ()
        {
            methodCalled++;
            Console.WriteLine ("AddUp Called {0} times", methodCalled);
        }

        public static double ComputeSum (double d1, double d2)
        {
            return d1 + d2;
        }

        public static void PrintName (String firstName, String lastName)
        {
            Console.WriteLine ("{0},{1}", lastName,firstName);
        }

        public void PrintTime ()
        {
            Console.WriteLine (DateTime.Now);
        }

        public void Swap(ref int a, ref int b)
        {
            int x = a;
            a = b;
            b = x;
        }
    }

    [DefaultMemberAttribute ("PrintTime")]
    public class TestClass2
    {
        public void PrintTime ()
        {
            Console.WriteLine (DateTime.Now);
        }
    }
}

Visual C++
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections;
using namespace System::Reflection;
using namespace System::IO;

//namespace BindingFlagsSnippet {
public ref class TestClass
{
public:
   String^ Name;

private:
   array<Object^>^values;

public:

   property Object^ Item [int]
   {
      Object^ get( int index )
      {
         return values[ index ];
      }

      void set( int index, Object^ value )
      {
         values[ index ] = value;
      }

   }

   property Object^ Value
   {
      Object^ get()
      {
         return "the value";
      }

   }
   int methodCalled;
   TestClass()
   {
      Name = "initialName";
      array<Object^>^o = {(int^)0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
      values = o;
      methodCalled = 0;
   }

   static void SayHello()
   {
      Console::WriteLine( "Hello" );
   }

   void AddUp()
   {
      methodCalled++;
      Console::WriteLine( "AddUp Called {0} times", methodCalled );
   }

   static double ComputeSum( double d1, double d2 )
   {
      return d1 + d2;
   }

   static void PrintName( String^ firstName, String^ lastName )
   {
      Console::WriteLine( "{0},{1}", lastName, firstName );
   }

   void PrintTime()
   {
      Console::WriteLine( DateTime::Now );
   }

   void Swap( interior_ptr<int> a, interior_ptr<int> b )
   {
      int x =  *a;
       *a =  *b;
       *b = x;
   }

};


[DefaultMemberAttribute("PrintTime")]
public ref class TestClass2
{
public:
   void PrintTime()
   {
      Console::WriteLine( DateTime::Now );
   }

};

class Invoke
{
public:
   static void Go()
   {

      // BindingFlags::InvokeMethod
      // Call a static method.
      Type^ t = TestClass::typeid;
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking a static method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "-------------------------" );
      array<Object^>^obj1;
      t->InvokeMember( "SayHello", BindingFlags::InvokeMethod | BindingFlags::Public | BindingFlags::Static, nullptr, nullptr, obj1 );

      // BindingFlags::InvokeMethod
      // Call an instance method.
      TestClass^ c = gcnew TestClass;
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking an instance method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "----------------------------" );
      c->GetType()->InvokeMember( "AddUp", BindingFlags::InvokeMethod, nullptr, c, obj1 );
      c->GetType()->InvokeMember( "AddUp", BindingFlags::InvokeMethod, nullptr, c, obj1 );

      // BindingFlags::InvokeMethod
      // Call a method with parameters.
      array<Object^>^args = {100.09,184.45};
      Object^ result;
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking a method with parameters." );
      Console::WriteLine( "---------------------------------" );
      result = t->InvokeMember( "ComputeSum", BindingFlags::InvokeMethod, nullptr, nullptr, args );
      Console::WriteLine( " {0} + {1} = {2}", args[ 0 ], args[ 1 ], result );

      // BindingFlags::GetField, SetField
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking a field (getting and setting.)" );
      Console::WriteLine( "--------------------------------------" );

      // Get a field value.
      result = t->InvokeMember( "Name", BindingFlags::GetField, nullptr, c, obj1 );
      Console::WriteLine( "Name == {0}", result );

      // Set a field.
      array<Object^>^obj2 = {"NewName"};
      t->InvokeMember( "Name", BindingFlags::SetField, nullptr, c, obj2 );
      result = t->InvokeMember( "Name", BindingFlags::GetField, nullptr, c, obj1 );
      Console::WriteLine( "Name == {0}", result );
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking an indexed property (getting and setting.)" );
      Console::WriteLine( "--------------------------------------------------" );

      // BindingFlags::GetProperty
      // Get an indexed property value.
      int index = 3;
      array<Object^>^obj3 = {index};
      result = t->InvokeMember( "Item", BindingFlags::GetProperty, nullptr, c, obj3 );
      Console::WriteLine( "Item->Item[ {0}] == {1}", index, result );

      // BindingFlags::SetProperty
      // Set an indexed property value.
      index = 3;
      array<Object^>^obj4 = {index,"NewValue"};
      t->InvokeMember( "Item", BindingFlags::SetProperty, nullptr, c, obj4 );
      result = t->InvokeMember( "Item", BindingFlags::GetProperty, nullptr, c, obj3 );
      Console::WriteLine( "Item->Item[ {0}] == {1}", index, result );
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Getting a field or property." );
      Console::WriteLine( "----------------------------" );

      // BindingFlags::GetField
      // Get a field or property.
      result = t->InvokeMember( "Name", static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::GetField | BindingFlags::GetProperty), nullptr, c, obj1 );
      Console::WriteLine( "Name == {0}", result );

      // BindingFlags::GetProperty
      result = t->InvokeMember( "Value", static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::GetField | BindingFlags::GetProperty), nullptr, c, obj1 );
      Console::WriteLine( "Value == {0}", result );
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking a method with named parameters." );
      Console::WriteLine( "---------------------------------------" );

      // BindingFlags::InvokeMethod
      // Call a method using named parameters.
      array<Object^>^argValues = {"Mouse","Micky"};
      array<String^>^argNames = {"lastName","firstName"};
      t->InvokeMember( "PrintName", BindingFlags::InvokeMethod, nullptr, nullptr, argValues, nullptr, nullptr, argNames );
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking a default member of a type." );
      Console::WriteLine( "------------------------------------" );

      // BindingFlags::Default
      // Call the default member of a type.
      Type^ t3 = TestClass2::typeid;
      t3->InvokeMember( "", static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::InvokeMethod | BindingFlags::Default), nullptr, gcnew TestClass2, obj1 );

      // BindingFlags::Static, NonPublic, and Public
      // Invoking a member by reference.
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking a method by reference." );
      Console::WriteLine( "-------------------------------" );
      MethodInfo^ m = t->GetMethod( "Swap" );
      args = gcnew array<Object^>(2);
      args[ 0 ] = 1;
      args[ 1 ] = 2;
      m->Invoke( gcnew TestClass, args );
      Console::WriteLine( "{0}, {1}", args[ 0 ], args[ 1 ] );

      // The String* is case-sensitive.
      Type^ type = Type::GetType( "System.String" );

      // Check to see if the value is valid. If the Object* is 0, the type does not exist.
      if ( type == nullptr )
      {
         Console::WriteLine( "Please ensure that you specify only valid types in the type field." );
         Console::WriteLine( "The type name is case-sensitive." );
         return;
      }


      // Declare and populate the arrays to hold the information.
      // You must declare either NonPublic or Public with Static or the search will not work.
      array<FieldInfo^>^fi = type->GetFields( static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::Static | BindingFlags::NonPublic | BindingFlags::Public) );

      // BindingFlags::NonPublic
      array<MethodInfo^>^miNonPublic = type->GetMethods( static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::Static | BindingFlags::NonPublic) );

      // BindingFlags::Public
      array<MethodInfo^>^miPublic = type->GetMethods( static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::Static | BindingFlags::Public) );

      // Iterate through all the nonpublic methods.
      IEnumerator^ myEnum1 = miNonPublic->GetEnumerator();
      while ( myEnum1->MoveNext() )
      {
         MethodInfo^ method = safe_cast<MethodInfo^>(myEnum1->Current);
         Console::WriteLine( method );
      }

      IEnumerator^ myEnum2 = miPublic->GetEnumerator();
      while ( myEnum2->MoveNext() )
      {
         MethodInfo^ method = safe_cast<MethodInfo^>(myEnum2->Current);
         Console::WriteLine( method );
      }

      IEnumerator^ myEnum3 = fi->GetEnumerator();
      while ( myEnum3->MoveNext() )
      {
         FieldInfo^ f = safe_cast<FieldInfo^>(myEnum3->Current);
         Console::WriteLine( f );
      }


      // BindingFlags::Instance
      // Call an instance method.
      TestClass^ tc = gcnew TestClass;
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking an Instance method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "----------------------------" );
      tc->GetType()->InvokeMember( "AddUp", static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::Public | BindingFlags::Instance | BindingFlags::CreateInstance), nullptr, tc, obj1 );

      // BindingFlags::CreateInstance
      // Calling and creating an instance method.
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking and creating an instance method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "-----------------------------------------" );
      tc->GetType()->InvokeMember( "AddUp", static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::Public | BindingFlags::Instance | BindingFlags::CreateInstance), nullptr, tc, obj1 );

      // BindingFlags::DeclaredOnly
      TestClass^ tc2 = gcnew TestClass;
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "DeclaredOnly members" );
      Console::WriteLine( "---------------------------------" );
      array<System::Reflection::MemberInfo^>^memInfo = tc2->GetType()->GetMembers( BindingFlags::DeclaredOnly );
      for ( int i = 0; i < memInfo->Length; i++ )
      {
         Console::WriteLine( memInfo[ i ]->Name );

      }

      // BindingFlags::SuppressChangeType
      TestClass^ obj = gcnew TestClass;
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Invoking static method - PrintName" );
      Console::WriteLine( "---------------------------------" );
      System::Reflection::MethodInfo^ methInfo = obj->GetType()->GetMethod( "PrintName" );
      array<Object^>^args1 = {"Brad","Smith"};
      methInfo->Invoke( obj, static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::SuppressChangeType | BindingFlags::InvokeMethod), nullptr, args1, nullptr );

      // BindingFlags::IgnoreCase
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Using IgnoreCase and invoking the PrintName method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "---------------------------------------------------" );
      methInfo = obj->GetType()->GetMethod( "PrintName" );
      array<Object^>^args2 = {"brad","smith"};
      methInfo->Invoke( obj, static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::IgnoreCase | BindingFlags::InvokeMethod), nullptr, args2, nullptr );

      // BindingFlags::IgnoreReturn
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Using IgnoreReturn and invoking the PrintName method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "-----------------------------------------------------" );
      methInfo = obj->GetType()->GetMethod( "PrintName" );
      array<Object^>^args3 = {"Brad","Smith"};
      methInfo->Invoke( obj, static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::IgnoreReturn | BindingFlags::InvokeMethod), nullptr, args3, nullptr );

      // BindingFlags::OptionalParamBinding
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Using OptionalParamBinding and invoking the PrintName method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "-------------------------------------------------------------" );
      methInfo = obj->GetType()->GetMethod( "PrintName" );
      array<Object^>^args4 = {"Brad","Smith"};
      methInfo->Invoke( obj, static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::OptionalParamBinding | BindingFlags::InvokeMethod), nullptr, args4, nullptr );

      // BindingFlags::ExactBinding
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Using ExactBinding and invoking the PrintName method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "-----------------------------------------------------" );
      methInfo = obj->GetType()->GetMethod( "PrintName" );
      array<Object^>^args5 = {"Brad","Smith"};
      methInfo->Invoke( obj, static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::ExactBinding | BindingFlags::InvokeMethod), nullptr, args5, nullptr );

      // BindingFlags::FlattenHierarchy
      Console::WriteLine();
      Console::WriteLine( "Using FlattenHierarchy and invoking the PrintName method." );
      Console::WriteLine( "---------------------------------------------------------" );
      methInfo = obj->GetType()->GetMethod( "PrintName" );
      array<Object^>^args6 = {"Brad","Smith"};
      methInfo->Invoke( obj, static_cast<BindingFlags>(BindingFlags::FlattenHierarchy | BindingFlags::InvokeMethod), nullptr, args6, nullptr );
   }

};

int main()
{
   array<String^>^args = Environment::GetCommandLineArgs();
   Invoke::Go();
}

//}

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0, 1.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.0
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BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy does not return inherited interface members when querying an interface      David M. Kean   |   Edit   |   Show History

Passing BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy to one of the Type.GetXXX methods, such as Type.GetMembers, will not return inherited interface members when you are querying on an interface type itself.

For example, given the following interface types:

    public interface A
{
void AMethod();
}

public interface B
{
void BMethod();
}

public interface AB : A, B
{
void ABMethod();
}

Running the following code, despite passing BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy, will only return members that are directly declared on the AB interface:

[C#]
using System;
using System.Reflection;

namespace Samples
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
foreach (MemberInfo member in typeof(AB).GetMembers(BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy | BindingFlags.Public))
{
Console.WriteLine(member.Name);
}
}
}
}

The above code outputs the following:

ABMethod

To get the inherited members, you need to query each implemented interface for its members.

The following examples shows a way to do this:

[C#]
using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace Samples
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
foreach (MemberInfo member in GetMembers(typeof(AB), BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance))
{
Console.WriteLine(member.Name);
}
}

private static ICollection<MemberInfo> GetMembers(Type type, BindingFlags flags)
{
HashSet<MemberInfo> members = new HashSet<MemberInfo>();
GetMembersRecursively(type, flags, members);
return members;
}



private static void GetMembersRecursively(Type type, BindingFlags flags, HashSet<MemberInfo> members)
{
MemberInfo[] childMembers = type.GetMembers(flags);
members.UnionWith(childMembers);

foreach (Type interfaceType in type.GetInterfaces())
{
GetMembersRecursively(interfaceType, flags, members);
}
}
}
}


The above code outputs the following:

ABMethod
AMethod
BMethod
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Type.GetMethods simply DOES NOT WORK.      BhuttCrackSpackle   |   Edit   |   Show History
I have a very simple type that has no whizbang functionality on it. I'm not implementing any interfaces, I'm not inheriting from any base classes, etc, and the ONLY methods I get back when I call GetMethods(...) is the property set and get methods, but none of the actual subs or functions declared in the class. I've tried every possible combination of the 10,000 combinations of BindingFlags and nothing returns the Subs or Functions whether Private or Public in the class.

It simply doesn't work.
Someone needs to fix this because it's insane.
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