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Type::HasElementType Property

.NET Framework (current version)
 

Gets a value indicating whether the current Type encompasses or refers to another type; that is, whether the current Type is an array, a pointer, or is passed by reference.

Namespace:   System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

C#
C++
F#
VB
Copy 
public:
property bool HasElementType {
	virtual bool get() sealed;
}

Property Value

Type: System::Boolean

true if the Type is an array, a pointer, or is passed by reference; otherwise, false.

Implements

_Type::HasElementType

For example, Type.GetType("Int32[]").HasElementType returns true, but Type.GetType("Int32").HasElementType returns false. HasElementType also returns true for "Int32*" and "Int32&".

If the current Type represents a generic type, or a type parameter in the definition of a generic type or generic method, this property always returns false.

The following example returns true or false depending on whether or not the object is an array, a reference type, or a pointer.

C#
C++
VB
Copy 
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;

public ref class Example
{
public:
    // This method is for demonstration purposes. It includes a
    // tracking reference (C# ref, VB ByRef), an out parameter,
    // and a pointer.
    void Test(int% x, [OutAttribute()] int% y, int* z)
    { 
        *z = x = y = 0; 
    }    
};

int main()
{
    // All of the following display 'True'.

    // Define a managed array, get its type, and display HasElementType. 
    array<Example^>^ examples = {gcnew Example(), gcnew Example()};
    Type^ t = examples::typeid; 
    Console::WriteLine(t);
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for managed array types.", t->HasElementType);

    // When you use Reflection Emit to emit dynamic methods and
    // assemblies, you can create array types using MakeArrayType.
    // The following creates the type 'array of Example'.
    t = Example::typeid->MakeArrayType();
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for managed array types.", t->HasElementType);

    // When you reflect over methods, HasElementType is true for
    // ref, out, and pointer parameter types. The following 
    // gets the Test method, defined above, and examines its
    // parameters.
    MethodInfo^ mi = Example::typeid->GetMethod("Test");
    array<ParameterInfo^>^ parms = mi->GetParameters();
    t = parms[0]->ParameterType;
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for ref parameter types.", t->HasElementType);
    t = parms[1]->ParameterType;
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for out parameter types.", t->HasElementType);
    t = parms[2]->ParameterType;
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for pointer parameter types.", t->HasElementType);

    // When you use Reflection Emit to emit dynamic methods and
    // assemblies, you can create pointer and ByRef types to use
    // when you define method parameters.
    t = Example::typeid->MakePointerType();
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for pointer types.", t->HasElementType);
    t = Example::typeid->MakeByRefType();
    Console::WriteLine("HasElementType is '{0}' for ByRef types.", t->HasElementType);
}

Universal Windows Platform
Available since 8
.NET Framework
Available since 1.1
Portable Class Library
Supported in: portable .NET platforms
Silverlight
Available since 2.0
Windows Phone Silverlight
Available since 7.0
Windows Phone
Available since 8.1
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