Attribute.GetCustomAttributes Method (Assembly, Boolean)

 

Retrieves an array of the custom attributes applied to an assembly. Parameters specify the assembly, and an ignored search option.

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

Public Shared Function GetCustomAttributes (
	element As Assembly,
	inherit As Boolean
) As Attribute()

Parameters

element
Type: System.Reflection.Assembly

An object derived from the Assembly class that describes a reusable collection of modules.

inherit
Type: System.Boolean

This parameter is ignored, and does not affect the operation of this method.

Return Value

Type: System.Attribute()

An Attribute array that contains the custom attributes applied to element, or an empty array if no such custom attributes exist.

Exception Condition
ArgumentNullException

element or attributeType is null.

System_CAPS_noteNote

Starting with the .NET Framework version 2.0, this method returns security attributes if the attributes are stored in the new metadata format. Assemblies compiled with version 2.0 or later use the new format. Dynamic assemblies and assemblies compiled with earlier versions of the .NET Framework use the old XML format. See Emitting Declarative Security Attributes.

The following code example demonstrates the use of GetCustomAttributes, taking an Assembly as a parameter.

Imports System.Reflection

<Assembly: AssemblyTitle("CustAttrs1VB")> 
<Assembly: AssemblyDescription("GetCustomAttributes() Demo")> 
<Assembly: AssemblyCompany("Microsoft")> 

Module Example
    Sub Main()
        ' Get the Assembly type to access its metadata.
        Dim assy As Reflection.Assembly = GetType(Example).Assembly

        ' Iterate through all the attributes for the assembly.
        For Each attr As Attribute In Attribute.GetCustomAttributes(assy)
            ' Check for the AssemblyTitle attribute.
            If TypeOf attr Is AssemblyTitleAttribute Then
                ' Convert the attribute to access its data.
                Dim attrTitle As AssemblyTitleAttribute = _
                    CType(attr, AssemblyTitleAttribute)
                Console.WriteLine("Assembly title is ""{0}"".", _
                    attrTitle.Title)

            ' Check for the AssemblyDescription attribute.
            ElseIf TypeOf attr Is AssemblyDescriptionAttribute Then
                ' Convert the attribute to access its data.
                Dim attrDesc As AssemblyDescriptionAttribute = _
                    CType(attr, AssemblyDescriptionAttribute)
                Console.WriteLine("Assembly description is ""{0}"".", _
                    attrDesc.Description)

            ' Check for the AssemblyCompany attribute.
            ElseIf TypeOf attr Is AssemblyCompanyAttribute Then
                ' Convert the attribute to access its data.
                Dim attrComp As AssemblyCompanyAttribute = _
                    CType(attr, AssemblyCompanyAttribute)
                Console.WriteLine("Assembly company is {0}.", _
                    attrComp.Company)
            End If
        Next
    End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'     Assembly company is Microsoft.
'     Assembly description is "GetCustomAttributes() Demo".
'     Assembly title is "CustAttrs1VB".

.NET Framework
Available since 1.1
Silverlight
Available since 2.0
Windows Phone Silverlight
Available since 7.0
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