C# Version 2.0 Specification

 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
C# Version 2.0 Specification July 2003
Table of Contents
19. Introduction to C# 2.0---1
19.1 Generics---1
19.1.1 Why generics? ---1
19.1.2 Creating and using generics---2
19.1.3 Generic type instantiations ---3
19.1.4 Constraints---3
19.1.5 Generic methods ---5
19.2 Anonymous methods---5
19.2.1 Method group conversions ---8
19.3 Iterators---8
19.4 Partial types ---11
20. Generics ---13
20.1 Generic class declarations---13
20.1.1 Type parameters ---13
20.1.2 The instance type ---14
20.1.3 Base specification ---15
20.1.4 Members of generic classes---15
20.1.5 Static fields in generic classes ---16
20.1.6 Static constructors in generic classes ---16
20.1.7 Accessing protected members ---17
20.1.8 Overloading in generic classes ---17
20.1.9 Parameter array methods and type parameters ---18
20.1.10 Overriding and generic classes ---19
20.1.11 Operators in generic classes ---19
20.1.12 Nested types in generic classes--20
20.1.13 Application entry point ---21
20.2 Generic struct declarations ---21
20.3 Generic interface declarations---21
20.3.1 Uniqueness of implemented interfaces ---22
20.3.2 Explicit interface member implementations---22
20.4 Generic delegate declarations ---23
20.5 Constructed types ---23
20.5.1 Type arguments ---24
20.5.2 Open and closed types---25
20.5.3 Base classes and interfaces of a constructed type---25
20.5.4 Members of a constructed type---25
20.5.5 Accessibility of a constructed type ---26
20.5.6 Conversions ---27
20.5.7 The System.Nullable<T> type---27
20.5.8 Using alias directives ---27
20.5.9 Attributes---28
20.6 Generic methods ---28
20.6.1 Generic method signatures ---29
20.6.2 Virtual generic methods ---30
20.6.3 Calling generic methods---30
20.6.4 Inference of type arguments ---31
20.6.5 Grammar ambiguities---32
20.6.6 Using a generic method with a delegate---32
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iv Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
20.6.7 No generic properties, events, indexers, or operators ---33
20.7 Constraints ---33
20.7.1 Satisfying constraints ---35
20.7.2 Member lookup on type parameters---36
20.7.3 Type parameters and boxing ---36
20.7.4 Conversions involving type parameters ---37
20.8 Expressions and Statements---39
20.8.1 Default value expression ---39
20.8.2 Object creation expressions---39
20.8.3 The typeof operator--39
20.8.4 Reference equality operators ---40
20.8.5 The is operator---40
20.8.6 The as operator ---40
20.8.7 Exception statements --41
20.8.8 The lock statement --41
20.8.9 The using statement --41
20.8.10 The foreach statement --41
20.9 Revised lookup rules --42
20.9.1 Namespace and type names--42
20.9.2 Member lookup--43
20.9.3 Simple names--44
20.9.4 Member access --45
20.9.5 Method invocations--47
20.9.6 Delegate creation expressions --48
20.10 Right-shift grammar changes --49
21. Anonymous methods--51
21.1 Anonymous method expressions--51
21.2 Anonymous method signatures --51
21.3 Anonymous method conversions --51
21.3.1 Delegate creation expression--53
21.4 Anonymous method blocks --53
21.5 Outer variables --53
21.5.1 Captured outer variables--54
21.5.2 Instantiation of local variables--54
21.6 Anonymous method evaluation --56
21.7 Delegate instance equality --57
21.8 Definite assignment--57
21.9 Method group conversions --58
21.10 Implementation example --59
22. Iterators --63
22.1 Iterator blocks --63
22.1.1 Enumerator interfaces --63
22.1.2 Enumerable interfaces--63
22.1.3 Yield type --63
22.1.4 This access--64
22.2 Enumerator objects--64
22.2.1 The MoveNext method --64
22.2.2 The Current property--65
22.2.3 The Dispose method --66
Table of Contents
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. v
22.3 Enumerable objects --66
22.3.1 The GetEnumerator method --66
22.4 The yield statement --67
22.4.1 Definite assignment --68
22.5 Implementation example --68
23. Partial Types--73
23.1 Partial declarations --73
23.1.1 Attributes--73
23.1.2 Modifiers --74
23.1.3 Type parameters and constraints--74
23.1.4 Base class --74
23.1.5 Base interfaces--75
23.1.6 Members--75
23.2 Name binding--76

Chapter 19 Introduction to C# 2.0-
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 1
19. Introduction to C# 2.0
C# 2.0 introduces several language extensions, the most important of which are Generics, Anonymous Methods,
Iterators, and Partial Types.
• Generics permit classes, structs, interfaces, delegates, and methods to be parameterized by the types of data
they store and manipulate. Generics are useful because they provide stronger compile-time type checking,
require fewer explicit conversions between data types, and reduce the need for boxing operations and runtime
type checks.
• Anonymous methods allow code blocks to be written “in-line” where delegate values are expected.
Anonymous methods are similar to lambda functions in the Lisp programming language. C# 2.0 supports
the creation of “closures” where anonymous methods access surrounding local variables and parameters.
• Iterators are methods that incrementally compute and yield a sequence of values. Iterators make it easy for a
type to specify how the foreach statement will iterate over its elements.
• Partial types allow classes, structs, and interfaces to be broken into multiple pieces stored in different source
files for easier development and maintenance. Additionally, partial types allow separation of machinegenerated
and user-written parts of types so that it is easier to augment code generated by a tool.
This chapter gives an introduction to these new features. Following the introduction are four chapters that
provide a complete technical specification of the features.
The language extensions in C# 2.0 were designed to ensure maximum compatibility with existing code. For
example, even though C# 2.0 gives special meaning to the words where, yield, and partial in certain
contexts, these words can still be used as identifiers. Indeed, C# 2.0 adds no new keywords as such keywords
could conflict with identifiers in existing code.
19.1 Generics
Generics permit classes, structs, interfaces, delegates, and methods to be parameterized by the types of data they
store and manipulate. C# generics will be immediately familiar to users of generics in Eiffel or Ada, or to users
of C++ templates, though they do not suffer many of the complications of the latter.
19.1.1 Why generics?
Without generics, general purpose data structures can use type object to store data of any type. For example,
the following simple Stack class stores its data in an object array, and its two methods, Push and Pop, use
object to accept and return data, respectively:
public class Stack
{
object[] items;
int count;
public void Push(object item) {...}
public object Pop() {...}
}
While the use of type object makes the Stack class very flexible, it is not without drawbacks. For example, it
is possible to push a value of any type, such a Customer instance, onto a stack. However, when a value is
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2 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
retrieved, the result of the Pop method must explicitly be cast back to the appropriate type, which is tedious to
write and carries a performance penalty for run-time type checking:
Stack stack = new Stack();
stack.Push(new Customer());
Customer c = (Customer)stack.Pop();
If a value of a value type, such as an int, is passed to the Push method, it is automatically boxed. When the
int is later retrieved, it must be unboxed with an explicit type cast:
Stack stack = new Stack();
stack.Push(3);
int i = (int)stack.Pop();
Such boxing and unboxing operations add performance overhead since they involve dynamic memory
allocations and run-time type checks.
A further issue with the Stack class is that it is not possible to enforce the kind of data placed on a stack.
Indeed, a Customer instance can be pushed on a stack and then accidentally cast it to the wrong type after it is
retrieved:
Stack stack = new Stack();
stack.Push(new Customer());
string s = (string)stack.Pop();
While the code above is an improper use of the Stack class, the code is technically speaking correct and a
compile-time error is not reported. The problem does not become apparent until the code is executed, at which
point an InvalidCastException is thrown.
The Stack class would clearly benefit from the ability to specify its element type. With generics, that becomes
possible.
19.1.2 Creating and using generics
Generics provide a facility for creating types that have type parameters. The example below declares a generic
Stack class with a type parameter T. The type parameter is specified in < and > delimiters after the class name.
Rather than forcing conversions to and from object, instances of Stack<T> accept the type for which they are
created and store data of that type without conversion. The type parameter T acts as a placeholder until an actual
type is specified at use. Note that T is used as the element type for the internal items array, the type for the
parameter to the Push method, and the return type for the Pop method:
public class Stack<T>
{
T[] items;
int count;
public void Push(T item) {...}
public T Pop() {...}
}
When the generic class Stack<T> is used, the actual type to substitute for T is specified. In the following
example, int is given as the type argument for T:
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
stack.Push(3);
int x = stack.Pop();
The Stack<int> type is called a constructed type. In the Stack<int> type, every occurrence of T is replaced
with the type argument int. When an instance of Stack<int> is created, the native storage of the items array
is an int[] rather than object[], providing substantial storage efficiency compared to the non-generic
Stack. Likewise, the Push and Pop methods of a Stack<int> operate on int values, making it a compileChapter
19 Introduction to C# 2.0
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 3
time error to push values of other types onto the stack, and eliminating the need to explicitly cast values back to
their original type when they’re retrieved.
Generics provide strong typing, meaning for example that it is an error to push an int onto a stack of
Customer objects. Just as a Stack<int> is restricted to operate only on int values, so is Stack<Customer>
restricted to Customer objects, and the compiler will report errors on the last two lines of the following
example:
Stack<Customer> stack = new Stack<Customer>();
stack.Push(new Customer());
Customer c = stack.Pop();
stack.Push(3); // Type mismatch error
int x = stack.Pop(); // Type mismatch error
Generic type declarations may have any number of type parameters. The Stack<T> example above has only
one type parameter, but a generic Dictionary class might have two type parameters, one for the type of the
keys and one for the type of the values:
public class Dictionary<K,V>
{
public void Add(K key, V value) {...}
public V this[K key] {...}
}
When Dictionary<K,V> is used, two type arguments would have to be supplied:
Dictionary<string,Customer> dict = new Dictionary<string,Customer>();
dict.Add("Peter", new Customer());
Customer c = dict["Peter"];
19.1.3 Generic type instantiations
Similar to a non-generic type, the compiled representation of a generic type is intermediate language (IL)
instructions and metadata. The representation of the generic type of course also encodes the existence and use of
type parameters.
The first time an application creates an instance of a constructed generic type, such as Stack<int>, the just-intime
(JIT) compiler of the .NET Common Language Runtime converts the generic IL and metadata to native
code, substituting actual types for type parameters in the process. Subsequent references to that constructed
generic type then use the same native code. The process of creating a specific constructed type from a generic
type is known as a generic type instantiation.
The .NET Common Language Runtime creates a specialized copy of the native code for each generic type
instantiation with a value type, but shares a single copy of the native code for all reference types (since, at the
native code level, references are just pointers with the same representation).
19.1.4 Constraints
Commonly, a generic class will do more than just store data based on a type parameter. Often, the generic class
will want to invoke methods on objects whose type is given by a type parameter. For example, an Add method
in a Dictionary<K,V> class might need to compare keys using a CompareTo method:
public class Dictionary<K,V>
{
public void Add(K key, V value)
{
...
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4 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
if (key.CompareTo(x) < 0) {...} // Error, no CompareTo method
...
}
}
Since the type argument specified for K could be any type, the only members that can be assumed to exist on the
key parameter are those declared by type object, such as Equals, GetHashCode, and ToString; a compiletime
error therefore occurs in the example above. It is of course possible to cast the key parameter to a type that
contains a CompareTo method. For example, the key parameter could be cast to IComparable:
public class Dictionary<K,V>
{
public void Add(K key, V value)
{
...
if (((IComparable)key).CompareTo(x) < 0) {...}
...
}
}
While this solution works, it requires a dynamic type check at run-time, which adds overhead. It furthermore
defers error reporting to run-time, throwing an InvalidCastException if a key doesn’t implement
IComparable.
To provide stronger compile-time type checking and reduce type casts, C# permits an optional list of constraints
to be supplied for each type parameter. A type parameter constraint specifies a requirement that a type must
fulfill in order to be used as an argument for that type parameter. Constraints are declared using the word
where, followed by the name of a type parameter, followed by a list of class or interface types, or the
constructor constraint new().
In order for the Dictionary<K,V> class to ensure that keys always implement IComparable, the class
declaration can specify a constraint for the type parameter K:
public class Dictionary<K,V> where K: IComparable
{
public void Add(K key, V value)
{
...
if (key.CompareTo(x) < 0) {...}
...
}
}
Given this declaration the compiler will ensure that any type argument supplied for K is a type that implements
IComparable. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to explicitly cast the key parameter to IComparable
before calling the CompareTo method; all members of a type given as a constraint for a type parameter are
directly available on values of that type parameter type.
For a given type parameter, it is possible to specify any number of interfaces as constraints, but no more than
one class. Each constrained type parameter has a separate where clause. In the example below, the type
parameter K has two interface constraints, while the type parameter E has a class constraint and a constructor
constraint:
public class EntityTable<K,E>
where K: IComparable<K>, IPersistable
where E: Entity, new()
{
public void Add(K key, E entity)
{
...
Chapter 19 Introduction to C# 2.0
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 5
if (key.CompareTo(x) < 0) {...}
...
}
}
The constructor constraint, new(), in the example above ensures that a type used as a type argument for E has a
public, parameterless constructor, and it permits the generic class to use new E() to create instances of that type.
Type parameter constrains should be used with care. While they provide stronger compile-time type checking
and in some cases improve performance, they also restrict the possible uses of a generic type. For example, a
generic class List<T> might constrain T to implement IComparable such that the list’s Sort method can
compare items. However, doing so would preclude use of List<T> for types that don’t implement
IComparable, even if the Sort method is never actually called in those cases.
19.1.5 Generic methods
In some cases a type parameter is not needed for an entire class, but only inside a particular method. Often, this
occurs when creating a method that takes a generic type as a parameter. For example, when using the Stack<T>
class described earlier, a common pattern might be to push multiple values in a row, and it might be convenient
to write a method that does so in a single call. For a particular constructed type, such as Stack<int>, the
method would look like this:
void PushMultiple(Stack<int> stack, params int[] values) {
foreach (int value in values) stack.Push(value);
}
This method can be used to push multiple int values onto a Stack<int>:
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
PushMultiple(stack, 1, 2, 3, 4);
However, the method above only works with the particular constructed type Stack<int>. To have it work with
any Stack<T>, the method must be written as a generic method. A generic method has one or more type
parameters specified in < and > delimiters after the method name. The type parameters can be used within the
parameter list, return type, and body of the method. A generic PushMultiple method would look like this:
void PushMultiple<T>(Stack<T> stack, params T[] values) {
foreach (T value in values) stack.Push(value);
}
Using this generic method, it is possible to push multiple items onto any Stack<T>. When calling a generic
method, type arguments are given in angle brackets in the method invocation. For example:
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
PushMultiple<int>(stack, 1, 2, 3, 4);
This generic PushMultiple method is more reusable than the previous version, since it works on any
Stack<T>, but it appears to be less convenient to call, since the desired T must be supplied as a type argument
to the method. In many cases, however, the compiler can deduce the correct type argument from the other
arguments passed to the method, using a process called type inferencing. In the example above, since the first
regular argument is of type Stack<int>, and the subsequent arguments are of type int, the compiler can
reason that the type parameter must be int. Thus, the generic PushMultiple method can be called without
specifying the type parameter:
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
PushMultiple(stack, 1, 2, 3, 4);
19.2 Anonymous methods
Event handlers and other callbacks are often invoked exclusively through delegates and never directly. Even so,
it has thus far been necessary to place the code of event handlers and callbacks in distinct methods to which
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
6 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
delegates are explictly created. In contrast, anonymous methods allow the code associated with a delegate to be
written “in-line” where the delegate is used, conveniently tying the code directly to the delegate instance.
Besides this convenience, anonymous methods have shared access to the local state of the containing function
member. To achieve the same state sharing using named methods requires “lifting” local variables into fields in
instances of manually authored helper classes.
The following example shows a simple input form that contains a list box, a text box, and a button. When the
button is clicked, an item containing the text in the text box is added to the list box.
class InputForm: Form
{
ListBox listBox;
TextBox textBox;
Button addButton;
public MyForm() {
listBox = new ListBox(...);
textBox = new TextBox(...);
addButton = new Button(...);
addButton.Click += new EventHandler(AddClick);
}
void AddClick(object sender, EventArgs e) {
listBox.Items.Add(textBox.Text);
}
}
Even though only a single statement is executed in response to the button’s Click event, that statement must be
extracted into a separate method with a full parameter list, and an EventHandler delegate referencing that
method must be manually created. Using an anonymous method, the event handling code becomes significantly
more succinct:
class InputForm: Form
{
ListBox listBox;
TextBox textBox;
Button addButton;
public MyForm() {
listBox = new ListBox(...);
textBox = new TextBox(...);
addButton = new Button(...);
addButton.Click += delegate {
listBox.Items.Add(textBox.Text);
};
}
}
An anonymous method consists of the keyword delegate, an optional parameter list, and a statement list
enclosed in { and } delimiters. The anonymous method in the previous example doesn’t use the parameters
supplied by the delegate, and it can therefore omit the parameter list. To gain access to the parameters, the
anonymous method can include a parameter list:
addButton.Click += delegate(object sender, EventArgs e) {
MessageBox.Show(((Button)sender).Text);
};
In the previous examples, an implicit conversion occurs from the anonymous method to the EventHandler
delegate type (the type of the Click event). This implict conversion is possible because the parameter list and
return type of the delegate type are compatible with the anonymous method. The exact rules for compatibility
are as follows:
Chapter 19 Introduction to C# 2.0
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 7
• The parameter list of a delegate is compatible with an anonymous method if one of the following is true:
o The anonymous method has no parameter list and the delegate has no out parameters.
o The anonymous method includes a parameter list that exactly matches the delegate’s parameters in
number, types, and modifiers.
• The return type of a delegate is compatible with an anonymous method if one of the following is true:
o The delegate’s return type is void and the anonymous method has no return statements or only
return statements with no expression.
o The delegate’s return type is not void and the expressions associated with all return statements in the
anonymous method can be implicitly converted to the return type of the delegate.
Both the parameter list and the return type of a delegate must be compatible with an anonymous method before
an implicit conversion to that delegate type can occur.
The following example uses anonymous methods to write functions “in-line.” The anonymous methods are
passed as parameters of a Function delegate type.
using System;
delegate double Function(double x);
class Test
{
static double[] Apply(double[] a, Function f) {
double[] result = new double[a.Length];
for (int i = 0; i < a.Length; i++) result[i] = f(a[i]);
return result;
}
static double[] MultiplyAllBy(double[] a, double factor) {
return Apply(a, delegate(double x) { return x * factor; });
}
static void Main() {
double[] a = {0.0, 0.5, 1.0};
double[] squares = Apply(a, delegate(double x) { return x * x; });
double[] doubles = MultiplyAllBy(a, 2.0);
}
}
The Apply method applies a given Function to the elements of a double[], returning a double[] with the
results. In the Main method, the second parameter passed to Apply is an anonymous method that is compatible
with the Function delegate type. The anonymous method simply returns the square of its argument, and thus
the result of that Apply invocation is a double[] containing the squares of the values in a.
The MultiplyAllBy method returns a double[] created by multiplying each of the values in the argument
array a by a given factor. In order to produce its result, MultiplyAllBy invokes the Apply method, passing
an anonymous method that multiplies the argument x by factor.
Local variables and parameters whose scope contains an anonymous method are called outer variables of the
anonymous method. In the MultiplyAllBy method, a and factor are outer variables of the anonymous
method passed to Apply, and because the anonymous method references factor, factor is said to have been
captured by the anonymous method. Ordinarily, the lifetime of a local variable is limited to execution of the
block or statement with which it is associated. However, the lifetime of a captured outer variable is extended at
least until the delegate referring to the anonymous method becomes eligible for garbage collection.
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8 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
19.2.1 Method group conversions
As described in the previous section, an anonymous method can be implicitly converted to a compatible
delegate type. C# 2.0 permits this same type of conversion for a method group, allowing explicit delegate
instantiations to be omitted in almost all cases. For example, the statements
addButton.Click += new EventHandler(AddClick);
Apply(a, new Function(Math.Sin));
can instead be written
addButton.Click += AddClick;
Apply(a, Math.Sin);
When the shorter form is used, the compiler automatically infers which delegate type to instantiate, but the
effects are otherwise the same as the longer form.
19.3 Iterators
The C# foreach statement is used to iterate over the elements of an enumerable collection. In order to be
enumerable, a collection must have a parameterless GetEnumerator method that returns an enumerator.
Generally, enumerators are difficult to implement, but the task is significantly simplified with iterators.
An iterator is a statement block that yields an ordered sequence of values. An iterator is distinguished from a
normal statement block by the presence of one or more yield statements:
• The yield return statement produces the next value of the iteration.
• The yield break statement indicates that the iteration is complete.
An iterator may be used as the body of a function member as long as the return type of the function member is
one of the enumerator interfaces or one of the enumerable interfaces:
• The enumerator interfaces are System.Collections.IEnumerator and types constructed from
System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerator<T>.
• The enumerable interfaces are System.Collections.IEnumerable and types constructed from
System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable<T>.
It is important to understand that an iterator is not a kind of member, but is a means of implementing a function
member. A member implemented via an iterator may be overridden or overloaded by other members which may
or may not be implemented with iterators.
The following Stack<T> class implements its GetEnumerator method using an iterator. The iterator
enumerates the elements of the stack in top to bottom order.
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class Stack<T>: IEnumerable<T>
{
T[] items;
int count;
public void Push(T data) {...}
public T Pop() {...}
public IEnumerator<T> GetEnumerator() {
for (int i = count – 1; i >= 0; --i) {
yield return items[i];
}
}
}
Chapter 19 Introduction to C# 2.0
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 9
The presence of the GetEnumerator method makes Stack<T> an enumerable type, allowing instances of
Stack<T> to be used in a foreach statement. The following example pushes the values 0 through 9 onto an
integer stack and then uses a foreach loop to display the values in top to bottom order.
using System;
class Test
{
static void Main() {
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) stack.Push(i);
foreach (int i in stack) Console.Write("{0} ", i);
Console.WriteLine();
}
}
The output of the example is:
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
The foreach statement implicitly calls a collection’s parameterless GetEnumerator method to obtain an
enumerator. There can only be one such parameterless GetEnumerator method defined by a collection, yet it
is often appropriate to have multiple ways of enumerating, and ways of controlling the enumeration through
parameters. In such cases, a collection can use iterators to implement properties or methods that return one of
the enumerable interfaces. For example, Stack<T> might introduce two new properties, TopToBottom and
BottomToTop, of type IEnumerable<T>:
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class Stack<T>: IEnumerable<T>
{
T[] items;
int count;
public void Push(T data) {...}
public T Pop() {...}
public IEnumerator<T> GetEnumerator() {
for (int i = count – 1; i >= 0; --i) {
yield return items[i];
}
}
public IEnumerable<T> TopToBottom {
get {
return this;
}
}
public IEnumerable<T> BottomToTop {
get {
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
yield return items[i];
}
}
}
}
The get accessor for the TopToBottom property just returns this since the stack itself is an enumerable. The
BottomToTop property returns an enumerable implemented with a C# iterator. The following example shows
how the properties can be used to enumerate stack elements in either order:
using System;
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
10 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
class Test
{
static void Main() {
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) stack.Push(i);
foreach (int i in stack.TopToBottom) Console.Write("{0} ", i);
Console.WriteLine();
foreach (int i in stack.BottomToTop) Console.Write("{0} ", i);
Console.WriteLine();
}
}
Of course, these properties can be used outside of a foreach statement as well. The following example passes
the results of invoking the properties to a separate Print method. The example also shows an iterator used as
the body of a FromToBy method that takes parameters:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class Test
{
static void Print(IEnumerable<int> collection) {
foreach (int i in collection) Console.Write("{0} ", i);
Console.WriteLine();
}
static IEnumerable<int> FromToBy(int from, int to, int by) {
for (int i = from; i <= to; i += by) {
yield return i;
}
}
static void Main() {
Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) stack.Push(i);
Print(stack.TopToBottom);
Print(stack.BottomToTop);
Print(FromToBy(10, 20, 2));
}
}
The output of the example is:
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 12 14 16 18 20
The generic and non-generic enumerable interfaces contain a single member, a GetEnumerator method that
takes no arguments and returns an enumerator interface. An enumerable acts as an enumerator factory. Properly
implemented enumerables generate independent enumerators each time their GetEnumerator method is called.
Assuming the internal state of the enumerable has not changed between two calls to GetEnumerator, the two
enumerators returned should produce the same set of values in the same order. This should hold even if the
lifetime of the enumerators overlap as in the following code sample:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class Test
{
static IEnumerable<int> FromTo(int from, int to) {
while (from <= to) yield return from++;
}
Chapter 19 Introduction to C# 2.0
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 11
static void Main() {
IEnumerable<int> e = FromTo(1, 10);
foreach (int x in e) {
foreach (int y in e) {
Console.Write("{0,3} ", x * y);
}
Console.WriteLine();
}
}
}
The code above prints a simple multiplication table of the integers 1 through 10. Note that the FromTo method
is invoked only once to generate the enumerable e. However, e.GetEnumerator() is invoked multiple times
(by the foreach statements) to generate multiple equivalent enumerators. These enumerators all encapsulate
the iterator code specified in the declaration of FromTo. Note that the iterator code modifies the from
parameter. Nevertheless, the enumerators act independently because each enumerator is given its own copy of
the from and to parameters. The sharing of transient state between enumerators is one of several common
subtle flaws that should be avoided when implementing enumerables and enumerators. C# iterators are designed
to help avoid these problems and to implement robust enumerables and enumerators in a simple intuitive way.
19.4 Partial types
While it is good programming practice to maintain all source code for a type in a single file, sometimes a type
becomes large enough that this is an impractical constraint. Furthermore, programmers often use source code
generators to produce the initial structure of an application, and then modify the resulting code. Unfortunately,
when source code is emitted again sometime in the future, existing modifications are overwritten.
Partial types allow classes, structs, and interfaces to be broken into multiple pieces stored in different source
files for easier development and maintenance. Additionally, partial types allow separation of machine-generated
and user-written parts of types so that it is easier to augment code generated by a tool.
A new type modifier, partial, is used when defining a type in multiple parts. The following is an example of a
partial class that is implemented in two parts. The two parts may be in different source files, for example
because the first part is machine generated by a database mapping tool and the second part is manually authored:
public partial class Customer
{
private int id;
private string name;
private string address;
private List<Order> orders;
public Customer() {
...
}
}
public partial class Customer
{
public void SubmitOrder(Order order) {
orders.Add(order);
}
public bool HasOutstandingOrders() {
return orders.Count > 0;
}
}
When the two parts above are compiled together, the resulting code is the same as if the class had been written
as a single unit:
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
12 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
public class Customer
{
private int id;
private string name;
private string address;
private List<Order> orders;
public Customer() {
...
}
public void SubmitOrder(Order order) {
orders.Add(order);
}
public bool HasOutstandingOrders() {
return orders.Count > 0;
}
}
All parts of a partial type must be compiled together such that the parts can be merged at compile-time. Partial
types specifically do not allow already compiled types to be extended.
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 13
20. Generics
20.1 Generic class declarations
A generic class declaration is a declaration of a class that requires type parameters to be supplied in order to
form actual types.
A class declaration may optionally define type parameters:
class-declaration:
attributesopt class-modifiersopt class identifier type-parameter-listopt class-baseopt
type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt class-body ;opt
A class declaration may not supply type-parameter-constraints-clauses (§20.7) unless it also supplies a typeparameter-
list.
A class declaration that supplies a type-parameter-list is a generic class declaration. Additionally, any class
nested inside a generic class declaration or a generic struct declaration is itself a generic class declaration, since
type parameters for the containing type must be supplied to create a constructed type.
Generic class declarations follow the same rules as normal class declarations except where noted, and
particularly with regard to naming, nesting and the permitted access controls. Generic class declarations may be
nested inside non-generic class declarations.
A generic class is referenced using a constructed type (§20.4). Given the generic class declaration
class List<T> {}
some examples of constructed types are List<T>, List<int> and List<List<string>>. A constructed
type that uses one or more type parameters, such as List<T>, is called a open constructed type. A constructed
type that uses no type parameters, such as List<int>, is called a closed constructed type.
Generic types may not be “overloaded”, that is the identifier of a generic type must be uniquely named within a
scope in the same way as ordinary types.
class C {}
class C<V> {} // Error, C defined twice
class C<U,V> {} // Error, C defined twice
However, the type lookup rules used during unqualified type name lookup (§20.9.3) and member access
(§20.9.4) do take the number of generic parameters into account.
20.1.1 Type parameters
Type parameters may be supplied on a class declaration. Each type parameter is a simple identifier which
denotes a placeholder for a type argument that is supplied to create a constructed type. A type parameter is a
formal placeholder for a type that will be supplied later. By constrast, a type argument (§20.5.1) is the actual
type that is substituted for the type parameter when a constructed type is referenced.
type-parameter-list:
< type-parameters >
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type-parameters:
type-parameter
type-parameters , type-parameter
type-parameter:
attributesopt identifier
Each type parameter in a class declaration defines a name in the declaration space (§3.3) of that class. Thus, it
cannot have the same name as another type parameter or a member declared in that class. A type parameter
cannot have the same name as the type itself.
The scope (§3.7) of a type parameter on a class includes the class-base, type-parameter-constraints-clauses, and
class-body. Unlike members of a class, it does not extend to derived classes. Within its scope, a type parameter
can be used as a type.
type:
value-type
reference-type
type-parameter
Since a type parameter can be instantiated with many different actual type arguments, type parameters have
slightly different operations and restrictions than other types. These include:
• A type parameter cannot be used directly to declare a base class or interface (§20.1.3).
• The rules for member lookup on type parameters depend on the constraints, if any, applied to the type. They
are detailed in §20.7.2.
• The available conversions for a type parameter depend on the constraints, if any, applied to the type. They
are detailed in §20.7.4.
• The literal null cannot be converted to a type given by a type parameter, except if the type parameter is
constrained by a class constraint (§20.7.4). However, a default value expression (§20.8.1) can be used
instead. In addition, a value with a type given by a type parameter can be compared with null using == and
!= (§20.8.4).
• A new expression (§20.8.2) can only be used with a type parameter if the type parameter is constrained by a
constructor-constraint (§20.7).
• A type parameter cannot be used anywhere within an attribute.
• A type parameter cannot be used in a member access or type name to identify a static member or a nested
type (§20.9.1, §20.9.4).
• In unsafe code, a type parameter cannot be used as an unmanaged-type (§18.2).
As a type, type parameters are purely a compile-time construct. At run-time, each type parameter is bound to a
run-time type that was specified by supplying a type argument to the generic type declaration. Thus, the type of
a variable declared with a type parameter will, at run-time, be a closed type (§20.5.2). The run-time execution of
all statements and expressions involving type parameters uses the actual type that was supplied as the type
argument for that parameter.
20.1.2 The instance type
Each class declaration has an associated constructed type, the instance type. For a generic class declaration, the
instance type is formed by creating a constructed type (§20.4) from the type declaration, with each of the
supplied type arguments being the corresponding type parameter. Since the instance type uses the type
parameters, it is only valid where the type parameters are in scope: inside the class declaration. The instance
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 15
type is the type of this for code written inside the class declaration. For non-generic classes, the instance type
is simply the declared class. The following shows several class declarations along with their instance types:
class A<T> // instance type: A<T>
{
class B {} // instance type: A<T>.B
class C<U> {} // instance type: A<T>.C<U>
}
class D {} // instance type: D
20.1.3 Base specification
The base class specified in a class declaration may be a constructed class type (§20.4). A base class may not be
a type parameter on its own, though it may involve the type parameters that are in scope.
class Extend<V>: V {} // Error, type parameter used as base class
A generic class declaration may not use System.Attribute as a direct or indirect base class.
The base interfaces specified in a class declaration may be constructed interface types (§20.4). A base interface
may not be a type parameter on its own, though it may involve the type parameters that are in scope. The
following code illustrates how a class can implement and extend constructed types:
class C<U,V> {}
interface I1<V> {}
class D: C<string,int>, I1<string> {}
class E<T>: C<int,T>, I1<T> {}
The base interfaces of a generic class declaration must satisfy the uniqueness rule described in §20.3.1.
Methods in a class that override or implement methods from a base class or interface must provide appropriate
methods of specialized types. The following code illustrates how methods are overridden and implemented.
This is explained further in §20.1.10.
class C<U,V>
{
public virtual void M1(U x, List<V> y) {...}
}
interface I1<V>
{
V M2(V);
}
class D: C<string,int>, I1<string>
{
public override void M1(string x, List<int> y) {...}
public string M2(string x) {...}
}
20.1.4 Members of generic classes
All members of a generic class may use type parameters from any enclosing class, either directly or as part of a
constructed type. When a particular closed constructed type (§20.5.2) is used at run-time, each use of a type
parameter is replaced with the actual type argument supplied to the constructed type. For example:
class C<V>
{
public V f1;
public C<V> f2 = null;
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public C(V x) {
this.f1 = x;
this.f2 = this;
}
}
class Application
{
static void Main() {
C<int> x1 = new C<int>(1);
Console.WriteLine(x1.f1); // Prints 1
C<double> x2 = new C<double>(3.1415);
Console.WriteLine(x2.f1); // Prints 3.1415
}
}
Within instance function members, the type of this is the instance type (§20.1.2) of the declaration.
Apart from the use of type parameters as types, members in generic class declarations follow the same rules as
members of non-generic classes. Additional rules that apply to particular kinds of members are discussed in the
following sections.
20.1.5 Static fields in generic classes
A static variable in a generic class declaration is shared amongst all instances of the same closed constructed
type (§20.5.2), but is not shared amongst instances of different closed constructed types. These rules apply
regardless of whether the type of the static variable involves any type parameters or not.
For example:
class C<V>
{
static int count = 0;
public C() {
count++;
}
public static int Count {
get { return count; }
}
}
class Application
{
static void Main() {
C<int> x1 = new C<int>();
Console.WriteLine(C<int>.Count); // Prints 1
C<double> x2 = new C<double>();
Console.WriteLine(C<int>.Count); // Prints 1
C<int> x3 = new C<int>();
Console.WriteLine(C<int>.Count); // Prints 2
}
}
20.1.6 Static constructors in generic classes
Static constructors in generic classes are used to initialize static fields and perform other initialization for each
different closed constructed type that is created from a particular generic class declaration. The type parameters
of the generic type declaration are in scope and can be used within the body of the static constructor.
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 17
A new closed constructed class type is initialized the first time that either:
• An instance of the closed constructed type is created.
• Any of the static members of the closed constructed type are referenced.
To initialize a new closed constructed class type, first a new set of static fields (§20.1.5) for that particular
closed constructed type is created. Each of the static fields is initialized to its default value (§5.2). Next, the
static field initializers (§10.4.5.1) are executed for those static fields. Finally, the static constructor is executed.
Because the static constructor is executed exactly once for each closed constructed class type, it is a convenient
place to enforce run-time checks on the type parameter that cannot be checked at compile-time via constraints
(§20.6.6). For example, the following type uses a static constructor to enforce that the type parameter is a
reference type:
class Gen<T>
{
static Gen() {
if ((object)T.default != null) {
throw new ArgumentException("T must be a reference type");
}
}
}
20.1.7 Accessing protected members
Within a generic class declaration, access to inherited protected instance members is permitted through an
instance of any class type constructed from the generic class. Specifically, the rules for accessing protected
and protected internal instance members specified in §3.5.3 are augmented with the following rule for
generics:
• Within a generic class G, access to an inherited protected instance member M using a primary-expression of
the form E.M is permitted if the type of E is a class type constructed from G or a class type inherited from a
class type constructed from G.
In the example
class C<T>
{
protected T x;
}
class D<T>: C<T>
{
static void F() {
D<T> dt = new D<T>();
D<int> di = new D<int>();
D<string> ds = new D<string>();
dt.x = T.default;
di.x = 123;
ds.x = "test";
}
}
the three assignments to x are permitted because they all take place through instances of class types constructed
from the generic type.
20.1.8 Overloading in generic classes
Methods, constructors, indexers, and operators within a generic class declaration can be overloaded; however,
overloading is constrained so that ambiguities cannot occur within constructed classes. Two function members
declared with the same names in the same generic class declaration must have parameter types such that no
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closed constructed type could have two members with the same name and signature. When considering all
possible closed constructed types, this rule includes type arguments that do not currently exist in the current
program, but could be written. Type constraints on the type parameter are ignored for the purpose of this rule.
The following examples show overloads that are valid and invalid according to this rule:
interface I1<T> {...}
interface I2<T> {...}
class G1<U>
{
long F1(U u); // Invalid overload, G<int> would have two
int F1(int i); // members with the same signature
void F2(U u1, U u2); // Valid overload, no type argument for U
void F2(int i, string s); // could be int and string simultaneously
void F3(I1<U> a); // Valid overload
void F3(I2<U> a);
void F4(U a); // Valid overload
void F4(U[] a);
}
class G2<U,V>
{
void F5(U u, V v); // Invalid overload, G2<int,int> would have
void F5(V v, U u); // two members with the same signature
void F6(U u, I1<V> v); // Invalid overload, G2<I1<int>,int> would
void F6(I1<V> v, U u); // have two members with the same signature
void F7(U u1, I1<V> v2); // Valid overload, U cannot be V and I1<V>
void F7(V v1, U u2); // simultaneously
void F8(ref U u); // Invalid overload
void F8(out V v);
}
class C1 {...}
class C2 {...}
class G3<U,V> where U: C1 where V: C2
{
void F9(U u); // Invalid overload, constraints on U and V
void F9(V v); // are ignored when checking overloads
}
20.1.9 Parameter array methods and type parameters
Type parameters may be used in the type of a parameter array. For example, given the declaration
class C<V>
{
static void F(int x, int y, params V[] args);
}
the following invocations of the expanded form of the method:
C<int>.F(10, 20);
C<object>.F(10, 20, 30, 40);
C<string>.F(10, 20, "hello", "goodbye");
correspond exactly to:
C<int>.F(10, 20, new int[] {});
C<object>.F(10, 20, new object[] {30, 40});
C<string>.F(10, 20, new string[] {"hello", "goodbye"} );
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 19
20.1.10 Overriding and generic classes
Function members in generic classes can override function members in base classes, as usual. If the base class is
a non-generic type or a closed constructed type, then any overriding function member cannot have constituent
types that involve type parameters. However, if the base class is an open constructed type, then an overriding
function member can use type parameters in its declaration. When determining the overridden base member, the
members of the base classes must be determined by substituting type arguments, as described in §20.5.4. Once
the members of the base classes are determined, the rules for overriding are the same as for non-generic classes.
The following example demonstrates how the overriding rules work in the presence of generics:
abstract class C<T>
{
public virtual T F() {...}
public virtual C<T> G() {...}
public virtual void H(C<T> x) {...}
}
class D: C<string>
{
public override string F() {...} // Ok
public override C<string> G() {...} // Ok
public override void H(C<T> x) {...} // Error, should be C<string>
}
class E<T,U>: C<U>
{
public override U F() {...} // Ok
public override C<U> G() {...} // Ok
public override void H(C<T> x) {...} // Error, should be C<U>
}
20.1.11 Operators in generic classes
Generic class declarations may define operators, following the same rules as normal class declarations. The
instance type (§20.1.2) of the class declaration must be used in the declaration of operators in a manner
analogous to the normal rules for operators, as follows:
• A unary operator must take a single parameter of the instance type. The unary ++ and -- operators must
return the instance type.
• At least one of the parameters of a binary operator must be of the instance type.
• Either the parameter type or the return type of a conversion operator must be the instance type.
The following shows some examples of valid operator declarations in a generic class:
class X<T>
{
public static X<T> operator ++(X<T> operand) {...}
public static int operator *(X<T> op1, int op2) {...}
public static explicit operator X<T>(T value) {...}
}
For a conversion operator that converts from a source type S to a target type T, when the rules specified in
§10.9.3 are applied, any type parameters associated with S or T are considered to be unique types that have no
inheritance relationship with other types, and any constrains on those type parameters are ignored.
In the example
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20 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
class C<T> {...}
class D<T>: C<T>
{
public static implicit operator C<int>(D<T> value) {...} // Ok
public static implicit operator C<T>(D<T> value) {...} // Error
}
the first operator declaration is permitted because, for the purposes of §10.9.3, T and int are considered unique
types with no relationship. However, the second operator is an error because C<T> is the base class of D<T>.
Given the above, it is possible to declare operators that, for some type arguments, specify conversions that
already exist as pre-defined conversions. In the example
struct Nullable<T>
{
public static implicit operator Nullable<T>(T value) {...}
public static explicit operator T(Nullable<T> value) {...}
}
when type object is specified as a type argument for T, the second operator declares a conversion that already
exists (an implicit, and therefore also an explicit, conversion exists from any type to type object).
In cases where a pre-defined conversion exists between two types, any user-defined conversions between those
types are ignored. Specifically:
• If a pre-defined implicit conversion (§6.1) exists from type S to type T, all user-defined conversions
(implicit or explicit) from S to T are ignored.
• If a pre-defined explicit conversion (§6.2) exists from type S to type T, any user-defined explicit conversions
from S to T are ignored. However, user-defined implicit conversions from S to T are still considered.
For all types but object, the operators declared by the Nullable<T> type above do not conflict with predefined
conversions. For example:
void F(int i, Nullable<int> n) {
i = n; // Error
i = (int)n; // User-defined explicit conversion
n = i; // User-defined implicit conversion
n = (Nullable<int>)i; // User-defined implicit conversion
}
However, for type object, pre-defined conversions hide the user-defined conversions in all cases but one:
void F(object o, Nullable<object> n) {
o = n; // Pre-defined boxing conversion
o = (object)n; // Pre-defined boxing conversion
n = o; // User-defined implicit conversion
n = (Nullable<object>)o; // Pre-defined unboxing conversion
}
20.1.12 Nested types in generic classes
A generic class declaration can contain nested type declarations. The type parameters of the enclosing class may
be used within the nested types. A nested type declaration may contain additional type parameters that apply
only to the nested type.
Every type declaration contained within a generic class declaration is implicitly a generic type declaration.
When writing a reference to a type nested within a generic type, the containing constructed type, including its
type arguments, must be named. However, from within the outer class, the inner type can be used without
qualification; the instance type of the outer class can be implicitly used when constructing the inner type. The
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 21
following example shows three different correct ways to refer to a constructed type created from Inner; the
first two are equivalent:
class Outer<T>
{
class Inner<U>
{
static void F(T t, U u) {...}
}
static void F(T t) {
Outer<T>.Inner<string>.F(t, "abc"); // These two statements have
Inner<string>.F(t, "abc"); // the same effect
Outer<int>.Inner<string>.F(3, "abc"); // This type is different
Outer.Inner<string>.F(t, "abc"); // Error, Outer needs type arg
}
}
Although it is bad programming style, the type parameters in a nested type can hide a member or type parameter
declared in the outer type:
class Outer<T>
{
class Inner<T> // Valid, hides Outer’s T
{
public T t; // Refers to Inner’s T
}
}
20.1.13 Application entry point
The application entry point method (§3.1) may not be in a generic class declaration.
20.2 Generic struct declarations
Like a class declaration, a struct declaration may optionally define type parameters:
struct-declaration:
attributesopt struct-modifiersopt struct identifier type-parameter-listopt struct-interfacesopt
type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt struct-body ;opt
The rules for generic class declarations apply equally to generic struct declarations, except where the exceptions
noted in §11.3 for struct-declarations apply.
20.3 Generic interface declarations
Interfaces may also optionally define type parameters:
interface-declaration:
attributesopt interface-modifiersopt interface identifier type-parameter-listopt
interface-baseopt type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt interface-body ;opt
An interface that is declared with type parameters is a generic interface declaration. Except where noted, generic
interface declarations follow the same rules as normal interface declarations.
Each type parameter in an interface declaration defines a name in the declaration space (§3.3) of that interface.
The scope (§3.7) of a type parameter on an interface includes the interface-base, type-parameter-constraintsclauses,
and interface-body. Within its scope, a type parameter can be used as a type. The same restrictions
apply to type parameters on interfaces as apply to type parameter on classes (§20.1.1).
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Methods within generic interfaces are subject to the same overload rules as methods within generic classes
(§20.1.8).
20.3.1 Uniqueness of implemented interfaces
The interfaces implemented by a generic type declaration must remain unique for all possible constructed types.
Without this rule, it would be impossible to determine the correct method to call for certain constructed types.
For example, suppose a generic class declaration were permitted to be written as follows:
interface I<T>
{
void F();
}
class X<U,V>: I<U>, I<V> // Error: I<U> and I<V> conflict
{
void I<U>.F() {...}
void I<V>.F() {...}
}
Were this permitted, it would be impossible to determine which code to execute in the following case:
I<int> x = new X<int,int>();
x.F();
To determine if the interface list of a generic type declaration is valid, the following steps are performed:
• Let L be the list of interfaces directly specified in a generic class, struct, or interface declaration C.
• Add to L any base interfaces of the interfaces already in L.
• Remove any duplicates from L.
• If any possible constructed type created from C would, after type arguments are substituted into L, cause two
interfaces in L to be indentical, then the declaration of C is invalid. Constraint declarations are not
considered when determining all possible constructed types.
In the class declaration X above, the interface list L consists of I<U> and I<V>. The declaration is invalid
because any constructed type with U and V being the same type would cause these two interfaces to be identical
types.
20.3.2 Explicit interface member implementations
Explicit interface member implementations work with constructed interface types in essentially the same way as
with simple interface types. As usual, an explicit interface member implementation must be qualified by an
interface-type indicating which interface is being implemented. This type may be a simple interface or a
constructed interface, as in the following example:
interface IList<T>
{
T[] GetElements();
}
interface IDictionary<K,V>
{
V this[K key];
void Add(K key, V value);
}
class List<T>: IList<T>, IDictionary<int,T>
{
T[] IList<T>.GetElements() {...}
T IDictionary<int,T>.this[int index] {...}
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 23
void IDictionary<int,T>.Add(int index, T value) {...}
}
20.4 Generic delegate declarations
A delegate declaration may include type parameters:
delegate-declaration:
attributesopt delegate-modifiersopt delegate return-type identifier type-parameter-listopt
( formal-parameter-listopt ) type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt ;
A delegate that is declared with type parameters is a generic delegate declaration. A delegate declaration may
not supply type-parameter-constraints-clauses (§20.7) unless it also supplies a type-parameter-list. Generic
delegate declarations follow the same rules as normal delegate declarations, except where noted. Each type
parameter in a generic delegate declaration defines a name in a special declaration space (§3.3) that is associated
with that delegate declaration. The scope (§3.7) of a type parameter on a delegate declaration includes the
return-type, formal-parameter-list, and type-parameter-constraints-clauses.
Like other generic type declarations, type arguments must be given to form a constructed delegate type. The
parameter types and return type of a constructed delegate type are formed by substituting, for each type
parameter in the delegate declaration, the corresponding type argument of the constructed delegate type. The
resulting return type and parameter types are used for determining what methods are compatible (§15.1) with a
constructed delegate type. For example:
delegate bool Predicate<T>(T value);
class X
{
static bool F(int i) {...}
static bool G(string s) {...}
static void Main() {
Predicate<int> p1 = F;
Predicate<string> p2 = G;
}
}
Note that the two assignments in the Main method above are equivalent to the following longer form:
static void Main() {
Predicate<int> p1 = new Predicate<int>(F);
Predicate<string> p2 = new Predicate<string>(G);
}
The shorter form is permitted because of method group conversions, which are described in §21.9.
20.5 Constructed types
A generic type declaration, by itself, does not denote a type. Instead, a generic type declaration is used as a
“blueprint” to form many different types, by way of applying type arguments. The type arguments are written
within angle brackets (< and >) immediately following the name of the generic type declaration. A type that is
named with at least one type argument is called a constructed type. A constructed type can be used in most
places in the language that a type name can appear.
type-name:
namespace-or-type-name
namespace-or-type-name:
identifier type-argument-listopt
namespace-or-type-name . identifier type-argument-listopt
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Constructed types can also be used in expressions as simple names (§20.9.3) or when accessing a member
(§20.9.4).
When a namespace-or-type-name is evaluated, only generic types with the correct number of type parameters
are considered. Thus, it is possible to use the same identifier to identify different types, as long as the types have
different numbers of type parameters and are declared in different namespaces. This is useful when mixing
generic and non-generic classes in the same program:
namespace System.Collections
{
class Queue {...}
}
namespace System.Collections.Generic
{
class Queue<ElementType> {...}
}
namespace MyApplication
{
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class X
{
Queue q1; // System.Collections.Queue
Queue<int> q2; // System.Collections.Generic.Queue
}
}
The detailed rules for name lookup in these productions is described in §20.9. The resolution of ambiguities in
these production is described in §20.6.5.
A type-name might identify a constructed type even though it doesn’t specify type parameters directly. This can
occur where a type is nested within a generic class declaration, and the instance type of the containing
declaration is implicitly used for name lookup (§20.1.12):
class Outer<T>
{
public class Inner {...}
public Inner i; // Type of i is Outer<T>.Inner
}
In unsafe code, a constructed type cannot be used as an unmanaged-type (§18.2).
20.5.1 Type arguments
Each argument in a type argument list is simply a type.
type-argument-list:
< type-arguments >
type-arguments:
type-argument
type-arguments , type-argument
type-argument:
type
Type arguments may in turn be constructed types or type parameters. In unsafe code (§18) a type-argument may
not be a pointer type. Each type argument must satisfy any constraints on the corresponding type parameter
(§20.7.1).
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 25
20.5.2 Open and closed types
All types can be classified as either open types or closed types. An open type is a type that involves type
parameters. More specifically:
• A type parameter defines an open type.
• An array type is an open type if and only if its element type is an open type.
• A constructed type is an open type if and only if one or more of its type arguments are an open type.
A closed type is a type that is not an open type.
At run-time, all of the code within a generic type declaration is executed in the context of a closed constructed
type that was created by applying type arguments to the generic declaration. Each type parameter within the
generic class is bound to a particular run-time type. The run-time processing of all statements and expressions
always occurs with closed types, and open types occur only during compile-time processing.
Each closed constructed type has its own set of static variables, which are not shared with any other closed
constructed types. Since an open type does not exist at run-time, there are no static variables associated with a
open type. Two closed constructed types are the same type if they are constructed from the same type
declaration, and corresponding type arguments are the same type.
20.5.3 Base classes and interfaces of a constructed type
A constructed class type has a direct base class, just like a simple class type. If the generic class declaration does
not specify a base class, the base class is object. If a base class is specified in the generic class declaration, the
base class of the constructed type is obtained by substituting, for each type-parameter in the base class
declaration, the corresponding type-argument of the constructed type. Given the generic class declarations
class B<U,V> {...}
class G<T>: B<string,T[]> {...}
the base class of the constructed type G<int> would be B<string,int[]>.
Similarly, constructed class, struct, and interface types have a set of explicit base interfaces. The explicit base
interfaces are formed by taking the explicit base interface declarations on the generic type declaration, and
substituting, for each type-parameter in the base interface declaration, the corresponding type-argument of the
constructed type.
The set of all base classes and base interfaces for a type is formed, as usual, by recursively getting the base
classes and interfaces of the immediate base classes and interfaces. For example, given the generic class
declarations:
class A {...}
class B<T>: A {...}
class C<T>: B<IComparable<T>> {...}
class D<T>: C<T[]> {...}
the base classes of D<int> are C<int[]>, B<IComparable<int[]>>, A, and object.
20.5.4 Members of a constructed type
The non-inherited members of a constructed type are obtained by substituting, for each type-parameter in the
member declaration, the corresponding type-argument of the constructed type.
For example, given the generic class declaration
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class Gen<T,U>
{
public T[,] a;
public void G(int i, T t, Gen<U,T> gt) {...}
public U Prop { get {...} set {...} }
public int H(double d) {...}
}
the constructed type Gen<int[],IComparable<string>> has the following members:
public int[,][] a;
public void G(int i, int[] t, Gen<IComparable<string>,int[]> gt) {...}
public IComparable<string> Prop { get {...} set {...} }
public int H(double d) {...}
Note that the substitution process is based on the semantic meaning of type declarations, and is not simply
textual substitution. The type of the member a in the generic class declaration Gen is “two-dimensional array of
T”, so the type of the member a in the instantiated type above is “two-dimensional array of one-dimensional
array of int”, or int[,][].
The inherited members of a constructed type are obtained in a similar way. First, all the members of the
immediate base class are determined. If the base class is itself a constructed type, this may involved a recursive
application of the current rule. Then, each of the inherited members is transformed by substituting, for each
type-parameter in the member declaration, the corresponding type-argument of the constructed type.
class B<U>
{
public U F(long index) {...}
}
class D<T>: B<T[]>
{
public T G(string s) {...}
}
In the above example, the constructed type D<int> has a non-inherited member public int G(string s)
obtained by substituting the type argument int for the type parameter T. D<int> also has an inherited member
from the class declaration B. This inherited member is determined by first determining the members of the
constructed type B<T[]> by substituting T[] for U, yielding public T[] F(long index). Then, the type
argument int is substituted for the type parameter T, yielding the inherited member public int[] F(long
index).
20.5.5 Accessibility of a constructed type
A constructed type C<T1, ...,TN> is accessible when all its parts C, T1, ..., TN are accessible. For instance, if the
generic type name C is public and all of the type-arguments T1, ...,TN are accessible as public, then the
constructed type is accessible as public, but if either the type-name or one of the type-arguments has
accessibility private then the accessibility of the constructed type is private. If one type-argument has
accessibility protected, and another has accessibility internal, then the constructed type is accessible only
in this class and its subclasses in this assembly.
More precisely, the accessibility domain for a constructed type is the intersection of the accessibility domains of
its constituent parts. Thus if a method has a return type or argument type that is a constructed type where one
constituent part is private, then the method must have an accessibility domain that is private; see §3.5.
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 27
20.5.6 Conversions
Constructed types follow the same conversion rules (§6) as do non-generic types. When applying these rules, the
base classes and interfaces of constructed types must be determined as described in §20.5.3.
No special conversions exist between constructed reference types other than those described in §6. In particular,
unlike array types, constructed reference types do not exhibit “co-variant” conversions. This means that a type
List<B> has no conversion (either implicit or explicit) to List<A> even if B is derived from A. Likewise, no
conversion exists from List<B> to List<object>.
The rationale for this is simple: if a conversion to List<A> is permitted, then apparently one can store values of
type A into the list. But this would break the invariant that every object in a list of type List<B> is always a
value of type B, or else unexpected failures may occur when assigning into collection classes.
The behavior of conversions and runtime type checks is illustrated below:
class A {...}
class B: A {...}
class Collection {...}
class List<T>: Collection {...}
class Test
{
void F() {
List<A> listA = new List<A>();
List<B> listB = new List<B>();
Collection c1 = listA; // Ok, List<A> is a Collection
Collection c2 = listB; // Ok, List<B> is a Collection
List<A> a1 = listB; // Error, no implicit conversion
List<A> a2 = (List<A>)listB; // Error, no explicit conversion
}
}
20.5.7 The System.Nullable<T> type
The System.Nullable<T> generic struct type defined in the .NET Base Class Library represents a value of
type T that may be null. The System.Nullable<T> type is useful in a variety of situations, such as to denote
nullable columns in a database table or optional attributes in an XML element.
An implicit conversion exists from the null type to any type constructed from System.Nullable<T>. The
result of such a conversion is the default value of System.Nullable<T>. In other words, writing
Nullable<int> x = null;
Nullable<string> y = null;
is the same as writing
Nullable<int> x = Nullable<int>.default;
Nullable<string> y = Nullable<string>.default;
20.5.8 Using alias directives
Using aliases may name a closed constructed type, but may not name a generic type declaration without
supplying type arguments. For example:
namespace N1
{
class A<T>
{
class B {}
}
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class C {}
}
namespace N2
{
using W = N1.A; // Error, cannot name generic type
using X = N1.A.B; // Error, cannot name generic type
using Y = N1.A<int>; // Ok, can name closed constructed type
using Z = N1.C; // Ok
}
20.5.9 Attributes
An open type may not be used anywhere inside an attribute. A closed constructed type can be used as the
argument to an attribute, but cannot be used as the attribute-name, because System.Attribute cannot be the
base type of a generic class declaration.
class A: Attribute
{
public A(Type t) {...}
}
class B<T>: Attribute {} // Error, cannot use Attribute as base
class List<T>
{
[A(typeof(T))] T t; // Error, open type in attribute
}
class X
{
[A(typeof(List<int>))] int x; // Ok, closed constructed type
[B<int>] int y; // Error, invalid attribute name
}
20.6 Generic methods
A generic method is a method that is generic with respect to certain types. A generic method declaration names,
in addition to normal parameters, a set of type parameters which are provided when using the method. Generic
methods may be declared inside class, struct, or interface declarations, which may themselves be either generic
or non-generic. If a generic method is declared inside a generic type declaration, the body of the method can
refer to both the type parameters of the method, and the type parameters of the containing declaration.
class-member-declaration:
…
generic-method-declaration
struct-member-declaration:
…
generic-method-declaration
interface-member-declaration:
…
interface-generic-method-declaration
Generic methods are declared by placing a type parameter list following the name of the method:
generic-method-declaration:
generic-method-header method-body
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 29
generic-method-header:
attributesopt method-modifiersopt return-type member-name type-parameter-list
( formal-parameter-listopt ) type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt
interface-generic-method-declaration:
attributesopt newopt return-type identifier type-parameter-list
( formal-parameter-listopt ) type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt ;
The type-parameter-list and type-parameter-constraints-clauses have the same syntax and function as in a
generic type declaration. The method-type-parameters are in scope throughout the generic-method-declaration,
and may be used to form types throughout that scope including the return-type, the method-body, and the typeparameter-
constraints-clauses but excluding the attributes.
The name of a method type parameter cannot be the same as the name of an ordinary parameter to the same
method.
The following example finds the first element in an array, if any, that satisfies the given test delegate. Generic
delegates are described in §20.4.
public delegate bool Test<T>(T item);
public class Finder
{
public static T Find<T>(T[] items, Test<T> test) {
foreach (T item in items) {
if (test(item)) return item;
}
throw new InvalidOperationException("Item not found");
}
}
A generic method may not be declared extern. All other method modifiers are valid on a generic method.
20.6.1 Generic method signatures
For the purposes of signature comparisons any type-parameter-constraints-clauses are ignored, as are the names
of the method-type-parameters, but the number of generic type parameters is relevant, as are the ordinal
positions of type-parameters in left-to-right ordering. The following example shows how method signatures are
affected by this rule:
class A {}
class B {}
interface IX
{
T F1<T>(T[] a, int i); // Error, both declarations have the same
void F1<U>(U[] a, int i); // signature because return type and type
// parameter names are not significant
void F2<T>(int x); // Ok, the number of type parameters is part
void F2(int x); // of the signature
void F3<T>(T t) where T: A; // Error, constraints are not
void F3<T>(T t) where T: B; // considered in signatures
}
Overloading of generic methods is further constrained by a rule similar to that which governs overloaded
methods in a generic type declaration (20.1.8). Two generic methods declared with the same names and same
number of type arguments must have parameter types such that no list of closed type arguments, when applied
to both methods in the same order, yield two methods with the same signature. Constraints are not considered
for the purposes of this rule. For example:
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class X<T>
{
void F<U>(T t, U u) {...} // Error, X<int>.F<int> yields two methods
void F<U>(U u, T t) {...} // with the same signature
}
20.6.2 Virtual generic methods
Generic methods can be declared using the abstract, virtual, and override modifiers. The signature
matching rules described in §20.6.1 are used when matching methods for overriding or interface
implementation. When a generic method overrides a generic method declared in a base class, or implements a
method in a base interface, the constraints given for each method type parameter must be the same in both
declarations, where method type parameters are identified by ordinal positions, left to right.
abstract class Base
{
public abstract T F<T,U>(T t, U u);
public abstract T G<T>(T t) where T: IComparable;
}
class Derived: Base
{
public override X F<X,Y>(X x, Y y) {...} // Ok
public override T G<T>(T t) {...} // Error
}
The override of F is correct because type parameter names are permitted to differ. The override of G is incorrect
because the given type parameter constraints (in this case none) do not match those of the method being
overridden.
20.6.3 Calling generic methods
A generic method invocation may explicitly specify a type argument list, or it may omit the type argument list
and rely on type inference to determine the type arguments. The exact compile-time processing of a method
invocation, including a generic method invocation, is described in §20.9.5. When a generic method is invoked
without a type argument list, type inference takes place as described in §20.6.4.
The following example shows how overload resolution occurs after type inference and after type arguments are
substituted into the parameter list:
class Test
{
static void F<T>(int x, T y) {
Console.WriteLine("one");
}
static void F<T>(T x, long y) {
Console.WriteLine("two");
}
static void Main() {
F<int>(5, 324); // Ok, prints "one"
F<byte>(5, 324); // Ok, prints "two"
F<double>(5, 324); // Error, ambiguous
F(5, 324); // Ok, prints "one"
F(5, 324L); // Error, ambiguous
}
}
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 31
20.6.4 Inference of type arguments
When a generic method is called without specifying type arguments, a type inference process attempts to infer
type arguments for the call. The presence of type inference allows a more convenient syntax to be used for
calling a generic method, and allows the programmer to avoid specifying redundant type information. For
example, given the method declaration:
class Util
{
static Random rand = new Random();
static public T Choose<T>(T first, T second) {
return (rand.Next(2) == 0)? first: second;
}
}
it is possible to invoke the Choose method without explicitly specifying a type argument:
int i = Util.Choose(5, 213); // Calls Choose<int>
string s = Util.Choose("foo", "bar"); // Calls Choose<string>
Through type inference, the type arguments int and string are determined from the arguments to the method.
Type inference occurs as part of the compile-time processing of a method invocation (§20.9.5) and takes place
before the overload resolution step of the invocation. When a particular method group is specified in a method
invocation, and no type arguments are specified as part of the method invocation, type inference is applied to
each generic method in the method group. If type inference succeeds, then the inferred type arguments are used
to determine the types of arguments for subsequent overload resolution. If overload resolution chooses a generic
method as the one to invoke, then the inferred type arguments are used as the actual type arguments for the
invocation. If type inference for a particular method fails, that method does not participate in overload
resolution. The failure of type inference, in and of itself, does not cause a compile-time error. However, it often
leads to a compile-time error when overload resolution then fails to find any applicable methods.
If the supplied number of arguments is different than the number of parameters in the method, then inference
immediately fails. Otherwise, type inference first occurs independently for each regular argument that is
supplied to the method. Assume this argument has type A, and the corresponding parameter has type P. Type
inferences are produced by relating the types A and P according to the following steps:
• Nothing is inferred from the argument (but type inference succeeds) if any of the following are true:
o P does not involve any method type parameters.
o The argument is the null literal.
o The argument is an anonymous method.
o The argument is a method group.
• If P is an array type and A is an array type of the same rank, then replace A and P respectively with the
element types of A and P and repeat this step.
• If P is an array type and A is not an array type of the same rank, then type inference fails for the generic
method.
• If P is a method type parameter, then type inference succeeds for this argument, and A is the type inferred
for that type parameter.
• Otherwise, P must be a constructed type. If, for each method type parameter MX that occurs in P, exactly one
type TX can be determined such that replacing each MX with each TX produces a type to which A is convertible
by a standard implicit conversion, then inferencing succeeds for this argument, and each TX is the type
inferred for each MX. Method type parameter constraints, if any, are ignored for the purpose of type
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inference. If, for a given MX, no TX exists or more than one TX exists, then type inference fails for the generic
method (a situation where more than one TX exists can only occur if P is a generic interface type and A
implements multiple constructed versions of that interface).
If all of the method arguments are processed successfully by the above algorithm, then all inferences that were
produced from the arguments are pooled. This pooled set of inferences must have the following properties:
• Each type parameter of the method must have had a type argument inferred for it. In short, the set of
inferences must be complete.
• If a type parameter occurred more than once, then all of the inferences for that type parameter must infer the
same type argument. In short, the set of inferences must be consistent.
If a complete and consistent set of inferred type arguments is found, then type inference is said to have
succeeded for the given generic method and argument list.
If the generic method was declared with a parameter array (§10.5.1.4), then type inference is first performed
against the method in its normal form. If type inference succeeds, and the resultant method is applicable, then
the method is eligible for overload resolution in its normal form. Otherwise, type inference is performed against
the method in its expanded form (§7.4.2.1).
20.6.5 Grammar ambiguities
The productions for simple-name and member-access in §20.6.3 can give rise to ambiguities in the grammar for
expressions. For example, the statement:
F(G<A,B>(7));
could be interpreted as a call to F with two arguments, G < A and B > (7). Alternatively, it could be interpreted
as a call to F with one argument, which is a call to a generic method G with two type arguments and one regular
argument.
If an expression could be parsed in two different valid ways, where > can be either interpreted as all or part of an
operator, or as ending a type-argument-list, the token immediately following the > is examined. If it is one of
( ) ] > : ; , . ?
then the > is interpreted as the end of a type-argument-list. Otherwise, the > is interpreted as an operator.
20.6.6 Using a generic method with a delegate
An instance of a delegate can be created that refers to a generic method declaration. The exact compile-time
processing of a delegate creation expression, including a delegate creation expression that refers to a generic
method, is described in §20.9.6.
The type arguments used when invoking a generic method through a delegate are determined when the delegate
is instantiated. The type arguments can be given explicitly via a type-argument-list, or determined by type
inference (§20.6.4). If type inference is used, the parameter types of the delegate are used as argument types in
the inference process. The return type of the delegate is not used for inference. The following example shows
both ways of supplying a type argument to a delegate instantiation expression:
delegate int D(string s, int i);
delegate int E();
class X
{
public static T F<T>(string s, T t) {...}
public static T G<T>() {...}
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 33
static void Main() {
D d1 = new D(F<int>); // Ok, type argument given explicitly
D d2 = new D(F); // Ok, int inferred as type argument
E e1 = new E(G<int>); // Ok, type argument given explicitly
E e2 = new E(G); // Error, cannot infer from return type
}
}
In the above example, a non-generic delegate type was instantiated using a generic method. It is also possible to
create an instance of a constructed delegate type (§20.4) using a generic method. In all cases, type arguments are
given or inferred when the delegate instance is created, and a type-argument-list may not be supplied when a
delegate is invoked (§15.3).
20.6.7 No generic properties, events, indexers, or operators
Properties, events, indexers, and operators may not themselves have type parameters (although they can occur in
generic classes, and use the type parameters from an enclosing class). If a property-like construct is required
that must itself be generic, a generic method must be used instead.
20.7 Constraints
Generic type and method declarations can optionally specify type parameter constraints by including typeparameter-
constraints-clauses in the declaration.
type-parameter-constraints-clauses:
type-parameter-constraints-clause
type-parameter-constraints-clauses type-parameter-constraints-clause
type-parameter-constraints-clause:
where type-parameter : type-parameter-constraints
type-parameter-constraints:
class-constraint
interface-constraints
constructor-constraint
class-constraint , interface-constraints
class-constraint , constructor-constraint
interface-constraints , constructor-constraint
class-constraint , interface-constraints , constructor-constraint
class-constraint:
class-type
interface-constraints:
interface-constraint
interface-constraints , interface-constraint
interface-constraint:
interface-type
constructor-constraint:
new ( )
Each type parameter constraints clause consists of the token where, followed by the name of a type parameter,
followed by a colon and the list of constraints for that type parameter. There can be only one where clause for
each type parameter, but the where clauses may be listed in any order. Similar to the get and set tokens in a
property accessor, the where token is not a keyword.
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The list of constraints given in a where clause may include any of the following components, in this order: a
single class constraint, one or more interface constraints, and the constructor constraint new().
If a constraint is a class type or an interface type, that type specifies a minimal “base type” that every type
argument used for that type parameter must support. Whenever a constructed type or generic method is used, the
type argument is checked against the constraints on the type parameter at compile-time. The type argument
supplied must derive from or implement all of the constraints given for that type parameter.
The type specified as a class-constraint must satisfy the following rules:
• The type must be a class type.
• The type must not be sealed.
• The type must not be one of the following special types: System.Array, System.Delegate,
System.Enum, or System.ValueType.
• The type must not be object. Since all types derive from object, such a constraint would have no effect
if it were permitted.
• At most one constraint for a given type parameter can be a class type.
The type specified as a interface-constraint must satisfy the following rules:
• The type must be an interface type.
• The same type may not be specified more than once in a given where clause.
In either case, the constraint may involve any of the type parameters of the associated type or method
declaration as part of a constructed type, and may involve the type being declared, but the constraint may not be
a type parameter alone.
Any class or interface type specified as a type parameter constraint must be at least as accessible (§10.5.4) as the
generic type or method being declared.
If the where clause for a type parameter includes a constructor constraint of the form new(), it is possible to
use the new operator to create instances of the type (§20.8.2). Any type argument used for a type parameter with
a constructor constraint must have an parameterless constructor (see §20.7.1 for details).
The following are examples of possible constraints:
interface IPrintable
{
void Print();
}
interface IComparable<T>
{
int CompareTo(T value);
}
interface IKeyProvider<T>
{
T GetKey();
}
class Printer<T> where T: IPrintable {...}
class SortedList<T> where T: IComparable<T> {...}
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 35
class Dictionary<K,V>
where K: IComparable<K>
where V: IPrintable, IKeyProvider<K>, new()
{
...
}
The following example is in error because it attempts to use a type parameter directly as a constraint:
class Extend<T,U> where U: T {...} // Error
Values of a constrained type parameter type can be used to access the instance members implied by the
constraints. In the example
interface IPrintable
{
void Print();
}
class Printer<T> where T: IPrintable
{
void PrintOne(T x) {
x.Print();
}
}
the methods of IPrintable can be invoked directly on x because T is constrained to always implement
IPrintable.
20.7.1 Satisfying constraints
Whenever a constructed type is used or a generic method is referenced, the supplied type arguments are checked
against the type parameter constraints declared on the generic type or method. For each where clause, the type
argument A that corresponds to the named type parameter is checked against each constraint as follows:
• If the constraint is a class type or an interface type, let C represent that constraint with the supplied type
arguments substituted for any type parameters that appear in the constraint. To satisfy the constraint, it must
be the case that type A is convertible to type C by one of the following:
o An identity conversion (§6.1.1)
o An implicit reference conversion (§6.1.4)
o A boxing conversion (§6.1.5)
o An implicit conversion from a type parameter A to C (§20.7.4).
• If the constraint is new(), the type argument A must not be abstract and must have a parameterless
constructor that is at least as accessible (§3.5.4) as the containing type. This is satisfied if either:
o A is a value type, since all value types have a public default constructor (§4.1.2), or
o A is a class that is not abstract, A contains an explicitly declared constructor with no parameters, and
that constructor is at least as accessible as A.
o A is not abstract and has a default constructor (§10.10.4).
A compile time error occurs if one or more of a type parameter’s constraints are not satisfied by the given type
arguments.
Since type parameters are not inherited, constraints are never inherited either. In the example below, D must
specify a constraint on its type parameter T, so that T satisfies the constraint imposed by the base class B<T>. In
contrast, class E need not specify a constraint, because List<T> implements IEnumerable for any T.
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class B<T> where T: IEnumerable {...}
class D<T>: B<T> where T: IEnumerable {...}
class E<T>: B<List<T>> {...}
20.7.2 Member lookup on type parameters
The results of member lookup in a type given by a type parameter T depends on the constraints, if any, specified
for T. If T has no constraints, or only the new() constraint, then member lookup on T returns the same set of
members as member lookup on object. Otherwise, the first stage of member lookup (§20.9.2) considers all the
members in each of the types that are constraints for T. After performing the first stage of member lookup for
each of the type constraints of T, the results are combined, and then hidden members are removed from the
combined results.
Before the advent of generics, member lookup always returned either a set of members declared solely in
classes, or a set of members declared solely in interfaces and possibly the type object. Member lookup on type
parameters changes this somewhat. When a type parameter has both a class constraint and one or more interface
constraints, member lookup can return a set of members, some of which were declared in the class, and others of
which were declared in an interface. The following additional rules handle this case.
• During member lookup (§20.9.2), members declared in a class other than object hide members declared in
interfaces.
• During overload resolution of methods (§7.5.5.1) and indexers (§7.5.6.2), if any applicable member was
declared in a class other than object, all members declared in an interface are removed from the set of
considered members.
These rules only have effect when doing binding on a type parameter with both a class constraint and an
interface constraint. Informally, members defined in a class constraint are always preferred over members in an
interface constraint.
20.7.3 Type parameters and boxing
When a struct type overrides a virtual method inherited from System.Object (Equals, GetHashCode, or
ToString), invocations of the virtual method through an instance of the struct type doesn’t cause boxing to
occur. This is true even when the struct is used as a type parameter and the invocation occurs through an
instance of the type parameter type. For example:
using System;
struct Counter
{
int value;
public override string ToString() {
value++;
return value.ToString();
}
}
class Program
{
static void Test<T>() where T: new() {
T x = new T();
Console.WriteLine(x.ToString());
Console.WriteLine(x.ToString());
Console.WriteLine(x.ToString());
}
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 37
static void Main() {
Test<Counter>();
}
}
The output of the program is:
1
2
3
Although it is never recommended for ToString to have side effects, the example demonstrates that no boxing
occurred for the three invocations of x.ToString().
Boxing never implicitly occurs when accessing a member on a constrained type parameter. For example,
suppose an interface ICounter contains a method Increment which can be used to modify a value. If
ICounter is used as a constraint, the implementation of the Increment method is called with a reference to
the variable that Increment was called on, never a boxed copy:
using System;
interface ICounter
{
void Increment();
}
struct Counter: ICounter
{
int value;
public override string ToString() {
return value.ToString();
}
void ICounter.Increment() {
value++;
}
}
class Program
{
static void Test<T>() where T: new(), ICounter {
T x = new T();
Console.WriteLine(x);
x.Increment(); // Modify x
Console.WriteLine(x);
((ICounter)x).Increment(); // Modify boxed copy of x
Console.WriteLine(x);
}
static void Main() {
Test<Counter>();
}
}
The first call to Increment modifies the value in the variable x. This is not equivalent to the second call to
Increment, which modifies the value in a boxed copy of x. Thus, the output of the program is:
0
1
1
20.7.4 Conversions involving type parameters
The conversions that are allowed on a type parameter T depend on the constraints specified for T. All type
parameters, constrained or not, have the following conversions.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
38 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
• An implicit identity conversion from T to T.
• An implicit conversion from T to object. At run-time, if T is a value type, this is executed as a boxing
conversion. Otherwise, it is executed as an implicit reference conversion.
• An explicit conversion from object to T. At run-time, if T is a value type, this is executed as an unboxing
conversion. Otherwise, it is executed as an explicit reference conversion.
• An explicit conversion from T to any interface type. At run-time, if T is a value type, this is executed as a
boxing conversion. Otherwise, it is executed as an explicit reference conversion.
• An explicit conversion from any interface type to T. At run-time, if T is a value type, this is executed as an
unboxing conversion. Otherwise, it is executed as an explicit reference conversion.
If the type parameter T has the interface type I specified as a constraint, the following additional conversions
exist:
• An implicit conversion from T to I, and from T to any base interface type of I. At run-time, if T is a value
type, this is executed as a boxing conversion. Otherwise, it is executed as an implicit reference conversion.
If the type parameter T has the class type C specified as a constraint, the following additional conversions exist:
• An implicit reference conversion from T to C, from T to any class C is derived from, and from T to any
interface C implements.
• An explicit reference conversion from C to T, from any class C is derived from to T, and from any interface
C implements to T.
• An implicit user-defined conversion from T to A, if an implicit user-defined conversion exists from C to A.
• An explicit user-defined conversion from A to T, if an explicit user-defined conversion exists from A to C.
• An implicit reference conversion from the null type to T.
An array type with element type T has the usual conversions to and from object and System.Array (§6.1.4,
§6.2.3). If T has a class type C specified as a constraint, then additionally:
• An implicit reference conversion exists from an array type AT with element type T to an array type AU with
element type U, and an explicit reference conversion exist from AU to AT, if both the following are true:
o AT and AU have the same number of dimensions.
o U is one of: C, a class C is derived from, an interface C implements, an interface I that is specified as a
constraint on T, or a base interface of I.
The above rules do not permit a direct explicit conversion from an unconstrained type parameter to a noninterface
type, which may be surprising. The reason for this rule is to prevent confusion and make the semantics
of such conversions clear. For example, consider the following declaration:
class X<T>
{
public static long F(T t) {
return (long) t; // Error, explicit conversion not permitted
}
}
If the direct explicit conversion of t to int were permitted, one might easily expect that X<int>.F(7) would
return 7L. However, it would not, because the standard numeric conversions are only considered when the types
are known to be numeric at compile time. In order to make the semantics clear, the above example must instead
be written:
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 39
class X<T>
{
public static long F(T t) {
return (long) (object) t; // OK, conversions permitted
}
}
20.8 Expressions and Statements
The operation of some expressions and statements is modified with generics. This section details those changes.
20.8.1 Default value expression
A default value expression is used to obtain the default value (§5.2) of a type. Typically a default value
expression is used for type parameters, since it may not be known if the type parameter is a value type or a
reference type. (No conversion exists from the null literal to a type parameter.)
primary-no-array-creation-expression:
…
default-value-expression
default-value-expression:
primary-expression . default
predefined-type . default
If a primary-expression is used in a default-value-expression, and the primary-expression is not classified as a
type, then a compile-time error occurs. However, the rule described in §7.5.4.1 also applies to a construct of the
form E.default.
If the left hand side of a default-value-expression evaluates at run-time to a reference type, the result is null
converted to that type. If the left hand side of a default-value-expression evaluates at run-time to a value type,
the result is the value-type’s default value (§4.1.2).
A default-value-expression is a constant expression (§7.15) if the type is a reference type or a type parameter
that has a class constraint. In addition, a default-value-expression is a constant expression if the type is one of
the following value types: sbyte, byte, short, ushort, int, uint, long, ulong, char, float, double,
decimal, or bool.
20.8.2 Object creation expressions
The type of an object creation expression can be a type parameter. When a type parameter is specified as the
type in an object creation expression, both of the following conditions must hold, or a compile-time error
occurs:
• The argument list must be omitted.
• A constructor constraint of the form new() must have been specified for the type parameter.
Execution of the object creation expression occurs by creating an instance of the run-time type that the type
parameter has been bound to, and invoking the default constructor of that type. The run-time type may be a
reference type or a value type.
20.8.3 The typeof operator
The typeof operator can be used on a type-parameter. The result is the System.Type object for the run-time
type that was bound to the type-parameter. The typeof operator can also be used on a constructed type.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
40 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
class X<T>
{
public static void PrintTypes() {
Console.WriteLine(typeof(T).FullName);
Console.WriteLine(typeof(X<X<T>>).FullName);
}
}
class M
{
static void Main() {
X<int>.PrintTypes();
}
}
The above program will print:
System.Int32
X<X<System.Int32>>
The typeof operator cannot be used with the name of a generic type declaration without specifying the type
arguments:
class X<T> {...}
class M
{
static void Main() {
Type t = typeof(X); // Error, X requires type arguments
}
}
20.8.4 Reference equality operators
The reference type equality operators (§7.9.6) may be used to compare values of a type parameter T if T is
constrained by a class constraint.
The use of the reference type equality operators is slightly relaxed to allow one argument to be of a type
parameter T and the other argument to be null, even if T has no class constraint. At run-time, if T is a value
type, the result of the comparison is false.
The following example checks whether an argument of an unconstrained type parameter type is null.
class C<T>
{
void F(T x) {
if (x == null) throw new ArgumentNullException();
...
}
}
The x == null construct is permitted even though T could represent a value type, and the result is simply
defined to be false when T is a value type.
20.8.5 The is operator
The is operator operates on open types largely following the usual rules (§7.9.9). If either the compile-time
type of e or T is an open type, then a dynamic type check on the run-time types of e and T is always performed.
20.8.6 The as operator
The as operator can be used with a type parameter T as the right hand side only if T has a class constraint. This
restriction is required because the value null might be returned as a result of the operator.
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 41
class X
{
public T F<T>(object o) where T: Attribute {
return o as T; // Ok, T has a class constraint
}
public T G<T>(object o) {
return o as T; // Error, unconstrained T
}
}
In the current specification for the as operator (§7.9.10), for the expression e as T the final bullet point states
that if no explicit reference conversion is available from the compile-time type of e to T, a compile-time error
occurs. With generics, this rule changes slightly. If either the compile-time type of e or T is an open type, then
no compile-time error occurs in this case; instead a run-time type check occurs.
20.8.7 Exception statements
The usual rules for throw (§8.9.5) and try (§8.10) statements apply when used with open types:
• The throw statement can be used with an expression whose type is given by a type parameter only if that
type parameter has System.Exception (or a subclass thereof) as a class constraint.
• The type named in a catch clause may be a type parameter only if that type parameter has
System.Exception (or a subclass thereof) as a class constraint.
20.8.8 The lock statement
The lock statement may be used with an expression whose type is given by a type parameter. If the run-time
type of the expression is a value type, the locking will have no effect (since the boxed value could not have any
other references to it).
20.8.9 The using statement
The using statement (§8.13) follows the usual rules: the expression must be implicitly convertible to
System.IDisposable. If a type parameter is constrained by System.IDisposable, then expressions of that
type may be used with a using statement.
20.8.10 The foreach statement
Given a foreach statement of the form:
foreach (ElementType element in collection) statement
If the collection expression is a type that does not implement the collection pattern, but does implement the
constructed interface System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable<T> for exactly one type T, then the
expansion of the foreach statement is:
IEnumerator<T> enumerator = ((IEnumerable<T>)(collection)).GetEnumerator();
try {
while (enumerator.MoveNext()) {
ElementType element = (ElementType)enumerator.Current;
statement;
}
}
finally {
enumerator.Dispose();
}
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
42 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
20.9 Revised lookup rules
Generics modify some of the basic rules used to look up and bind names. The following sections restate all the
basic name lookup rules, taking generics into account.
20.9.1 Namespace and type names
The following replaces §3.8:
Several contexts in a C# program require a namespace-name or a type-name to be specified. Either form of
name is written as one or more identifiers separated by “.” tokens.
namespace-name:
namespace-or-type-name
type-name:
namespace-or-type-name
namespace-or-type-name:
identifier type-argument-listopt
namespace-or-type-name . identifier type-argument-listopt
A namespace-name is a namespace-or-type-name that refers to a namespace. Following resolution as described
below, the namespace-or-type-name of a namespace-name must refer to a namespace, or otherwise a compiletime
error occurs. No type arguments can be present in a namespace-name (only types can have type
arguments).
A type-name is a namespace-or-type-name that refers to a type. Following resolution as described below, the
namespace-or-type-name of a type-name must refer to a type, or otherwise a compile-time error occurs.
The meaning of a namespace-or-type-name is determined as follows:
• If the namespace-or-type-name is of the form I or of the form I<A1, ..., AN>, where I is a single identifer
and <A1, ..., AN> is an optional type argument list:
o If the namespace-or-type-name appears within the body of a generic method declaration and if that
declaration includes a type parameter of the name given by I, then the namespace-or-type-name refers
to that type parameter. If a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
o Otherwise, if the namespace-or-type-name appears within the body of a type declaration, then for each
instance type T (§20.1.2), starting with the instance type of that type declaration and continuing with the
instance type of each enclosing class or struct declaration (if any):
• If the declaration of T includes a type parameter of the name given by I, then the namespace-ortype-
name refers to that type parameter. If a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error
occurs.
• Otherwise, if I is the name of an accessible member in T and if that member is a type with a
matching number of type parameters, then the namespace-or-type-name refers to the type T.I or
the type T.I<A1, ..., AN>. Note that non-type members (constants, fields, methods, properties,
indexers, operators, instance constructors, destructors, and static constructors) and type members
with a different number of type parameters are ignored when determining the meaning of a
namespace-or-type-name.
o Otherwise, for each namespace N, starting with the namespace in which the namespace-or-type-name
occurs, continuing with each enclosing namespace (if any), and ending with the global namespace, the
following steps are evaluated until an entity is located:
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Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 43
• If I is the name of a namespace in N and no type argument list was specified, then the namespaceor-
type-name refers to that namespace.
• Otherwise, if I is the name of an accessible type in N with a matching number of type parameters,
then the namespace-or-type-name refers to that type constructed with the given type arguments.
• Otherwise, if the location where the namespace-or-type-name occurs is enclosed by a namespace
declaration for N:
o If the namespace declaration contains a using-alias-directive that associates the name given by
I with an imported namespace or type, then the namespace-or-type-name refers to that
namespace or type. If a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
o Otherwise, if the namespaces imported by the using-namespace-directives of the namespace
declaration contain exactly one type with the name given by I and a matching number of type
parameters, then the namespace-or-type-name refers to that type constructed with the given type
arguments.
o Otherwise, if the namespaces imported by the using-namespace-directives of the namespace
declaration contain more than one type with the name given by I and a matching number of
type parameters, then the namespace-or-type-name is ambiguous and an error occurs.
o Otherwise, the namespace-or-type-name is undefined and a compile-time error occurs.
• Otherwise, the namespace-or-type-name is of the form N.I or of the form N.I<A1, ..., AN>, where N is a
namespace-or-type-name, I is an identifier, and <A1, ..., AN> is an optional type argument list. N is first
resolved as a namespace-or-type-name. If the resolution of N is not successful, a compile-time error occurs.
Otherwise, N.I or N.I<A1, ..., AN> is resolved as follows:
o If N refers to a namespace and if I is the name of a nested namespace in N, then the namespace-or-typename
refers to that nested namespace. If a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
o Otherwise, if N refers to a namespace and I is the name of an accessible type in N with a matching
number of type parameters, then the namespace-or-type-name refers to that type constructed with the
given type arguments.
o Otherwise, if N refers to a (possibly constructed) class or struct type and I is the name of an accessible
type nested in N with a matching number of type parameters, then the namespace-or-type-name refers to
that type constructed with the given type arguments.
o Otherwise, N.I is an invalid namespace-or-type-name, and a compile-time error occurs.
20.9.2 Member lookup
The following replaces §7.3:
A member lookup is the process whereby the meaning of a name in the context of a type is determined. A
member lookup may occur as part of evaluating a simple-name (§20.9.3) or a member-access (§20.9.4) in an
expression.
A member lookup of a name N in a type T is processed as follows:
• First, a set of accessible members named N is determined:
o If T is a type parameter, then the set is the union of the sets of accessible members named N in each of
the types specified as a class constraint or interface constraint for T, along with the set of accessible
members named N in object.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
44 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
o Otherwise, the set consists of all accessible (§3.5) members named N in T, including inherited members
and the accessible members named N in object. If T is a constructed type, the set of members is
obtained by substituting type arguments as described in §20.5.4. Members that include an override
modifier are excluded from the set.
• Next, members that are hidden by other members are removed from the set. For every member S.M in the
set, where S is the type in which the member M is declared, the following rules are applied:
o If M is a constant, field, property, event, or enumeration member, then all members declared in a base
type of S are removed from the set.
o If M is a type declaration, then all non-types declared in a base type of S are removed from the set, and
all type declarations with the same number of type parameters as M declared in a base type of S are
removed from the set.
o If M is a method, then all non-method members declared in a base type of S are removed from the set,
and all methods with the same signature as M declared in a base type of S are removed from the set.
• Next, interface members that are hidden by class members are removed from the set. This step only has an
effect if T is a type parameter and T has both a class constraint and one or more interface constraints. For
every member S.M in the set, where S is the type in which the member M is declared, the following rules are
applied if S is a class declaration other than object:
o If M is a constant, field, property, event, enumeration member, or type declaration, then all members
declared in an interface declaration are removed from the set.
o If M is a method, then all non-method members declared in an interface declaration are removed from
the set, and all methods with the same signature as M declared in an interface declaration are removed
from the set.
• Finally, having removed hidden members, the result of the lookup is determined:
o If the set consists of a single member that is not a type and not a method, then this member is the result
of the lookup.
o Otherwise, if the set contains only methods, then this group of methods is the result of the lookup.
o Otherwise, if the set contains only type declarations, then this group of type declarations in the result of
the lookup.
o Otherwise, the lookup is ambiguous, and a compile-time error occurs.
For member lookups in types other than interfaces, and member lookups in interfaces that are strictly singleinheritance
(each interface in the inheritance chain has exactly zero or one direct base interface), the effect of the
lookup rules is simply that derived members hide base members with the same name or signature. Such singleinheritance
lookups are never ambiguous. The ambiguities that can possibly arise from member lookups in
multiple-inheritance interfaces are described in §13.2.5.
20.9.3 Simple names
The following replaces §7.5.2:
A simple-name consists of an identifier, optionally followed by a type parameter list:
simple-name:
identifier type-argument-listopt
A simple-name of the form I or of the form I<A1, ..., AN>, where I is an identifer and <A1, ..., AN> is an
optional type argument list, is evaluated and classified as follows:
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 45
• If the simple-name appears within a block and if the block’s (or an enclosing block’s) local variable
declaration space (§3.3) contains a local variable or parameter with the name given by I, then the simplename
refers to that local variable or parameter and is classified as a variable. If a type argument list was
specified, a compile-time error occurs.
• If the simple-name appears within the body of a generic method declaration and if that declaration includes a
type parameter with the name given by I, then the simple-name refers to that type parameter. If a type
argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
• Otherwise, for each instance type T (§20.1.2), starting with the instance type of the immediately enclosing
class, struct, or enumeration declaration and continuing with the instance type of each enclosing outer class
or struct declaration (if any):
o If the declaration of T includes a type parameter of the name given by I, then the simple-name refers to
that type parameter. If a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
o Otherwise, if a member lookup (§20.9.2) of I in T produces a match:
• If T is the instance type of the immediately enclosing class or struct type and the lookup identifies
one or more methods, the result is a method group with an associated instance expression of this.
If a type argument list was specified, it is used in calling a generic method (§20.6.3).
• If T is the instance type of the immediately enclosing class or struct type, if the lookup identifies an
instance member, and if the reference occurs within the block of an instance constructor, an instance
method, or an instance accessor, the result is the same as a member access (§20.9.4) of the form
this.I. If a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
• Otherwise, the result is the same as a member access (§20.9.4) of the form T.I or T.I<A1, ..., AN>.
In this case, it is a compile-time error for the simple-name to refer to an instance member.
• Otherwise, for each namespace N, starting with the namespace in which the simple-name occurs, continuing
with each enclosing namespace (if any), and ending with the global namespace, the following steps are
evaluated until an entity is located:
o If I is the name of a namespace in N and no type argument list was specified, then the simple-name
refers to that namespace.
o Otherwise, if I is the name of an accessible type in N with a matching number of type parameters, then
the simple-name refers to that type constructed with the given type arguments.
o Otherwise, if the location where the simple-name occurs is enclosed by a namespace declaration for N:
• If the namespace declaration contains a using-alias-directive that associates the name given by I
with an imported namespace or type, then the simple-name refers to that namespace or type. If a
type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
• Otherwise, if the namespaces imported by the using-namespace-directives of the namespace
declaration contain exactly one type with the name given by I and a matching number of type
parameters, then the simple-name refers to that type constructed with the given type arguments.
• Otherwise, if the namespaces imported by the using-namespace-directives of the namespace
declaration contain more than one type with the name given by I and a matching number of type
parameters, then the simple-name is ambiguous and an error occurs.
• Otherwise, the name given by the simple-name is undefined and a compile-time error occurs.
20.9.4 Member access
The following replaces §7.5.4:
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46 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
A member-access consists of a primary-expression or a predefined-type, followed by a “.” token, followed by
an identifier, optionally followed by a type-argument-list.
member-access:
primary-expression . identifier type-argument-listopt
predefined-type . identifier type-argument-listopt
predefined-type: one of
bool byte char decimal double float int long
object sbyte short string uint ulong ushort
A member-access of the form E.I or of the form E.I<A1, ..., AN>, where E is a primary-expression or a
predefined-type, I is an identifier, and <A1, ..., AN> is an optional type-argument-list, is evaluated and classified
as follows:
• If E is a namespace and I is the name of a nested namespace in E, then the result is that namespace. If a type
argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
• If E is a namespace and I is the name of an accessible type in E, then the result is that type constructed with
the given type arguments. If the number of type arguments does not match the number of type parameters, a
compile-time error occurs.
• If E is a predefined-type or a primary-expression classified as a type, if E is not a type parameter, and if a
member lookup (§20.9.2) of I in E produces a match, then E.I is evaluated and classified as follows:
o If I identifies one or more type declarations, then determine the type declaration with the same number
of type parameters (possibly zero) as were supplied in the type-argument-list, if present. The result is
that type constructed with the given type arguments. If no type declaration has a matching number of
type parameters, a compile-time error occurs.
o If I identifies one or more methods, then the result is a method group with no associated instance
expression. If a type argument list was specified, it is used in calling a generic method (§20.6.3).
o If I identifies a static property, a static field, a static event, a constant, or an enumeration member, and if
a type argument list was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
o If I identifies a static property, then the result is a property access with no associated instance
expression.
o If I identifies a static field:
• If the field is readonly and the reference occurs outside the static constructor of the class or struct
in which the field is declared, then the result is a value, namely the value of the static field I in E.
• Otherwise, the result is a variable, namely the static field I in E.
o If I identifies a static event:
• If the reference occurs within the class or struct in which the event is declared, and the event was
declared without event-accessor-declarations (§10.7), then E.I is processed exactly as if I was a
static field.
• Otherwise, the result is an event access with no associated instance expression.
o If I identifies a constant, then the result is a value, namely the value of that constant.
o If I identifies an enumeration member, then the result is a value, namely the value of that enumeration
member. If a type-argument-list is supplied, a compile-time error occurs.
o Otherwise, E.I is an invalid member reference, and a compile-time error occurs.
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Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 47
• If E is a property access, indexer access, variable, or value, the type of which is T, and a member lookup
(§7.3) of I in T produces a match, then E.I is evaluated and classified as follows:
o First, if E is a property or indexer access, then the value of the property or indexer access is obtained
(§7.1.1) and E is reclassified as a value.
o If I identifies one or more methods, then the result is a method group with an associated instance
expression of E. If a type argument list was specified, it is used in calling a generic method (§20.6.3).
o If I identifies an instance property, an instance field, or an instance event, and if a type argument list
was specified, a compile-time error occurs.
o If I identifies an instance property, then the result is a property access with an associated instance
expression of E.
o If T is a class-type and I identifies an instance field of that class-type:
• If the value of E is null, then a System.NullReferenceException is thrown.
• Otherwise, if the field is readonly and the reference occurs outside an instance constructor of the
class in which the field is declared, then the result is a value, namely the value of the field I in the
object referenced by E.
• Otherwise, the result is a variable, namely the field I in the object referenced by E.
o If T is a struct-type and I identifies an instance field of that struct-type:
• If E is a value, or if the field is readonly and the reference occurs outside an instance constructor
of the struct in which the field is declared, then the result is a value, namely the value of the field I
in the struct instance given by E.
• Otherwise, the result is a variable, namely the field I in the struct instance given by E.
o If I identifies an instance event:
• If the reference occurs within the class or struct in which the event is declared, and the event was
declared without event-accessor-declarations (§10.7), then E.I is processed exactly as if I was an
instance field.
• Otherwise, the result is an event access with an associated instance expression of E.
• Otherwise, E.I is an invalid member reference, and a compile-time error occurs.
20.9.5 Method invocations
The following replaces the part of §7.5.5.1 that describes compile-time processing of a method invocation:
The compile-time processing of a method invocation of the form M(A), where M is a method group (possibly
including a type-argument-list), and A is an optional argument-list, consists of the following steps:
• The set of candidate methods for the method invocation is constructed. For each method F associated with
the method group M:
o If F is non-generic, F is a candidate when:
• M has no type argument list, and
• F is applicable with respect to A (§7.4.2.1).
o If F is generic and M has no type argument list, F is a candidate when:
• Type inference (§20.6.4) succeeds, inferring a list of type arguments for the call, and
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• Once the inferred type arguments are substituted for the corresponding method type parameters, the
parameter list of F is applicable with respect to A (§7.4.2.1), and
• The parameter list of F, after substituting type arguments, is not the same as an applicable nongeneric
method, possibly in expanded form (§7.4.2.1), declared in the same type as F.
o If F is generic and M includes a type argument list, F is a candidate when:
• F has the same number of method type parameters as were supplied in the type argument list, and
• Once the type arguments are substituted for the corresponding method type parameters, the
parameter list of F is applicable with respect to A (§7.4.2.1).
• The set of candidate methods is reduced to contain only methods from the most derived types: For each
method C.F in the set, where C is the type in which the method F is declared, all methods declared in a base
type of C are removed from the set.
• If the resulting set of candidate methods is empty, then no applicable methods exist, and a compile-time
error occurs. If the candidate methods are not all declared in the same type, the method invocation is
ambiguous, and a compile-time error occurs (this latter situation can only occur for an invocation of a
method in an interface that has multiple direct base interfaces, as described in §13.2.5).
• The best method of the set of candidate methods is identified using the overload resolution rules of §7.4.2. If
a single best method cannot be identified, the method invocation is ambiguous, and a compile-time error
occurs. When performing overload resolution, the parameters of a generic method are considered after
substituting the type arguments (supplied or inferred) for the corresponding method type parameters.
• Final validation of the chosen best method is performed:
o The method is validated in the context of the method group: If the best method is a static method, the
method group must have resulted from a simple-name or a member-access through a type. If the best
method is an instance method, the method group must have resulted from a simple-name, a memberaccess
through a variable or value, or a base-access. If neither of these requirements is true, a compiletime
error occurs.
o If the best method is a generic method, the type arguments (supplied or inferred) are checked against the
constraints (§20.7.1) declared on the generic method. If any type argument does not satisfy the
corresponding constraint(s) on the type parameter, a compile-time error occurs.
Once a method has been selected and validated at compile-time by the above steps, the actual run-time
invocation is processed according to the rules of function member invocation described in §7.4.3.
20.9.6 Delegate creation expressions
The following replaces the part of §7.5.10.3 that describes compile-time processing of a delegate creation
expression:
The compile-time processing of a delegate-creation-expression of the form new D(E), where D is a delegatetype
and E is an expression, consists of the following steps:
• If E is a method group:
o A single method is selected corresponding to a method invocation (§20.9.5) of the form E(A), with the
following modifications:
• The parameter types and modifiers (ref or out) of D are used as the argument types and modifiers
of the argument list A.
Chapter 20 Generics
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 49
• Conversions are not considered in applicability tests and type inferencing. In instances where an
implicit conversion would normally suffice, types are instead required to be identical.
• The overload resolution step is not performed. Instead, the set of candidates must include exactly
one method that is compatible (§15.1) with D (following substitution of type parameters with type
arguments), and this method becomes the one to which the newly created delegate refers. If no
matching method exists, or if more than one matching method exists, a compile-time error occurs.
o If the selected method is an instance method, the instance expression associated with E determines the
target object of the delegate.
o The result is a value of type D, namely a newly created delegate that refers to the selected method and
target object.
• Otherwise, if E is a value of a delegate-type:
o D and E must be compatible (§15.1); otherwise, a compile-time error occurs.
o The result is a value of type D, namely a newly created delegate that refers to the same invocation list
as E.
• Otherwise, the delegate creation expression is invalid, and a compile-time error occurs.
20.10 Right-shift grammar changes
The syntax for generics uses the < and > characters to delimit type parameters and type arguments (similar to the
syntax used in C++ for templates). Constructed types sometimes nest, as in List<Nullable<int>>, but there
is a subtle grammatical problem with such constructs: the lexical grammar will combine the last two characters
of this construct into the single token >> (the right shift operator), rather than producing two > tokens, which the
syntactic grammar would require. Although a possible solution is to put a space in between the two > characters,
this is awkward and confusing, and does not add to the clarity of the program in any way.
In order to allow these natural constructs, and to maintain a simple lexical grammar, the >> and >= tokens are
removed from the lexical grammar and replaced with right-shift and right-shift-assignment productions:
operator-or-punctuator: one of
{ } [ ] ( ) . , : ;
+ - * / % & | ^ ! ~
= < > ? ++ -- && || == ->
!= <= >= += -= *= /= %= &= |=
^= << <<=
right-shift:
> >
right-shift-assignment:
> >=
Unlike other productions in the syntactic grammar, no characters of any kind (not even whitespace) are allowed
between the tokens in the right-shift and right-shift-assignment productions.
The following productions are modified to use right-shift and right-shift-assignment:
shift-expression:
additive-expression
shift-expression << additive-expression
shift-expression right-shift additive-expression
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assignment-operator:
=
+=
-=
*=
/=
%=
&=
|=
^=
<<=
right-shift-assignment
overloadable-binary-operator:
+
-
*
/
%
&
|
^
<<
right-shift
==
!=
>
<
>=
<=
Chapter 21 Anonymous methods
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 51
21. Anonymous methods
21.1 Anonymous method expressions
An anonymous-method-expression defines an anonymous method and evaluates to a special value referencing
the method:
primary-no-array-creation-expression:
…
anonymous-method-expression
anonymous-method-expression:
delegate anonymous-method-signatureopt block
anonymous-method-signature:
( anonymous-method-parameter-listopt )
anonymous-method-parameter-list:
anonymous-method-parameter
anonymous-method-parameter-list , anonymous-method-parameter
anonymous-method-parameter:
parameter-modifieropt type identifier
An anonymous-method-expression is classified as a value with special conversion rules (§21.3). The value does
not have a type but can be implicitly converted to a compatible delegate type.
The anonymous-method-expression defines a new declaration space for parameters, locals and constants and a
new declaration space for labels (§3.3).
21.2 Anonymous method signatures
The optional anonymous-method-signature defines the names and types of the formal parameters for the
anonymous method. The scope of the parameters of the anonymous method is the block. It is a compile-time
error for the name of a parameter of the anonymous method to match the name of a local variable, local constant
or parameter whose scope includes the anonymous-method-expression.
If an anonymous-method-expression has an anonymous-method-signature, then the set of compatible delegate
types is restricted to those that have the same parameter types and modifiers in the same order (§21.3). If an
anonymous-method-expression doesn’t have an anonymous-method-signature, then the set of compatible
delegate types is restricted to those that have no out parameters.
Note that an anonymous-method-signature cannot include attributes or a parameter array. Nevertheless, an
anonymous-method-signature may be compatible with a delegate type whose parameter list contains a parameter
array.
21.3 Anonymous method conversions
An anonymous-method-expression is classified as a value with no type. An anonymous-method-expression may
be used in a delegate-creation-expression (§21.3.1). All other valid uses of an anonymous-method-expression
depend on the implicit conversions defined here.
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An implicit conversion (§6.1) exists from an anonymous-method-expression to any compatible delegate type. If
D is a delegate type, and A is an anonymous-method-expression, then D is compatible with A if and only if the
following two conditions are met.
• First, the parameter types of D must be compatible with A:
o If A does not contain an anonymous-method-signature, then D may have zero or more parameters of any
type, as long as no parameter of D has the out parameter modifier.
o If A has an anonymous-method-signature, then D must have the same number of parameters, each
parameter of A must be of the same type as the corresponding parameter of D, and the presence or
absence of the ref or out modifier on each parameter of A must match the corresponding parameter of
D. Whether the last parameter of D is a parameter-array is not relevant to the compatibility of A and D.
• Second, the return type of D must be compatible with A. For these rules, A is not considered to contain the
block of any other anonymous methods.
o If D is declared with a void return type, then any return statement contained in A may not specify an
expression.
o If D is declared with a return type of R, then any return statement contained in A must specify an
expression which is implicitly convertible (§6.1) to R. Furthermore, the end-point of the block of A must
not be reachable.
Besides the implicit conversions to compatible delegate types, no other conversions exist from an anonymousmethod-
expression, even to the type object.
The following examples illustrate these rules:
delegate void D(int x);
D d1 = delegate { }; // Ok
D d2 = delegate() { }; // Error, signature mismatch
D d3 = delegate(long x) { }; // Error, signature mismatch
D d4 = delegate(int x) { }; // Ok
D d5 = delegate(int x) { return; }; // Ok
D d6 = delegate(int x) { return x; }; // Error, return type mismatch
delegate void E(out int x);
E e1 = delegate { }; // Error, E has an out parameter
E e2 = delegate(out int x) { x = 1; }; // Ok
E e3 = delegate(ref int x) { x = 1; }; // Error, signature mismatch
delegate int P(params int[] a);
P p1 = delegate { }; // Error, end of block reachable
P p2 = delegate { return; }; // Error, return type mismatch
P p3 = delegate { return 1; }; // Ok
P p4 = delegate { return "Hello"; }; // Error, return type mismatch
P p5 = delegate(int[] a) { // Ok
return a[0];
};
P p6 = delegate(params int[] a) { // Error, params modifier
return a[0];
};
P p7 = delegate(int[] a) { // Error, return type mismatch
if (a.Length > 0) return a[0];
return "Hello";
};
delegate object Q(params int[] a);
Chapter 21 Anonymous methods
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 53
Q q1 = delegate(int[] a) { // Ok
if (a.Length > 0) return a[0];
return "Hello";
};
21.3.1 Delegate creation expression
A delegate-creation-expression (§7.5.10.3) can be used as an alternate syntax for converting an anonymous
method to a delegate type. If the expression used as the argument of a delegate-creation-expression is an
anonymous-method-expression, then the anonymous method is converted to the given delegate type using the
implicit conversion rules defined above. For example, if D is a delegate type, then the expression
new D(delegate { Console.WriteLine("hello"); })
is equivalent to the expression
(D) delegate { Console.WriteLine("hello"); }
21.4 Anonymous method blocks
The block of an anonymous-method-expression is subject to the following rules:
• If the anonymous method includes a signature, the parameters specified in the signature are available in the
block. If the anonymous method has no signature it can be converted to a delegate type having parameters
(§21.3), but the parameters cannot be accessed in the block.
• Except for ref or out parameters specified in the signature (if any) of the nearest enclosing anonymous
method, it is a compile-time error for the block to access a ref or out parameter.
• When the type of this is a struct type, it is a compile-time error for the block to access this. This is true
whether the access is explicit (as in this.x) or implicit (as in x where x is an instance member of the
struct). This rule simply prohibits such access and does not affect whether member lookup results in a
member of the struct.
• The block has access to the outer variables (§21.5) of the anonymous method. Access of an outer variable
will reference the instance of the variable that is active at the time the anonymous-method-expression is
evaluated (§21.6).
• It is a compile-time error for the block to contain a goto statement, break statement, or continue
statement whose target is outside the block or within the block of a contained anonymous method.
• A return statement in the block returns control from an invocation of the nearest enclosing anonymous
method, not from the enclosing function member. An expression specified in a return statement must be
compatible with the delegate type to which the nearest enclosing anonymous-method-expression is
converted (§21.3).
It is explicitly unspecified whether there is any way to execute the block of an anonymous method other than
through evaluation and invocation of the anonymous-method-expression. In particular, a compiler may choose to
implement an anonymous method by synthesizing one or more named methods or types. The names of any such
synthesized elements must be in the space reserved for compiler use: the names must contain two consecutive
underscore characters.
21.5 Outer variables
Any local variable, value parameter, or parameter array whose scope includes the anonymous-methodexpression
is called an outer variable of the anonymous-method-expression. In an instance function member of
a class, the this value is considered a value parameter and is an outer variable of any anonymous-methodexpression
contained within the function member.
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21.5.1 Captured outer variables
When an outer variable is referenced by an anonymous method, the outer variable is said to have been captured
by the anonymous method. Ordinarily, the lifetime of a local variable is limited to execution of the block or
statement with which it is associated (§5.1.7). However, the lifetime of a captured outer variable is extended at
least until the delegate referring to the anonymous method becomes eligible for garbage collection.
In the example
using System;
delegate int D();
class Test
{
static D F() {
int x = 0;
D result = delegate { return ++x; }
return result;
}
static void Main() {
D d = F();
Console.WriteLine(d());
Console.WriteLine(d());
Console.WriteLine(d());
}
}
the local variable x is captured by the anonymous method, and the lifetime of x is extended at least until the
delegate returned from F becomes eligible for garbage collection (which doesn’t happen until the very end of the
program). Since each invocation of the anonymous method operates on the same instance of x, the output of the
example is:
1
2
3
When a local variable or a value parameter is captured by an anonymous method, the local variable or parameter
is no longer considered to be a fixed variable (§18.3), but is instead considered to be a moveable variable. Thus
any unsafe code that takes the address of a captured outer variable must first use the fixed statement to fix
the variable.
21.5.2 Instantiation of local variables
A local variable is considered to be instantiated when execution enters the scope of the variable. For example,
when the following method is invoked, the local variable x is instantiated and initialized three times—once for
each iteration of the loop.
static void F() {
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
int x = i * 2 + 1;
...
}
}
However, moving the declaration of x outside the loop results in a single instantiation of x:
Chapter 21 Anonymous methods
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 55
static void F() {
int x;
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
x = i * 2 + 1;
...
}
}
Ordinarily, there is no way to observe exactly how often a local variable is instantiated—because the lifetimes of
the instantiations are disjoint, it is possible for each instantation to simply use the same storage location.
However, when an anonymous method captures a local variable, the effects of instantiation become apparent.
The example
using System;
delegate void D();
class Test
{
static D[] F() {
D[] result = new D[3];
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
int x = i * 2 + 1;
result[i] = delegate { Console.WriteLine(x); };
}
return result;
}
static void Main() {
foreach (D d in F()) d();
}
}
produces the output:
1
3
5
However, when the declaration of x is moved outside the loop:
static D[] F() {
D[] result = new D[3];
int x;
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
x = i * 2 + 1;
result[i] = delegate { Console.WriteLine(x); };
}
return result;
}
the output is:
5
5
5
Note that the three delegates created in the version of F directly above will be equal according to the equality
operator (§21.7). Furthermore, note that the compiler is permitted (but not required) to optimize the three
instantiations into a single delegate instance (§21.6).
It is possible for anonymous method delegates to share some captured variables yet have separate instances of
others. For example, if F is changed to
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56 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
static D[] F() {
D[] result = new D[3];
int x = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
int y = 0;
result[i] = delegate { Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}", ++x, ++y); };
}
return result;
}
the three delegates capture the same instance of x but separate instances of y, and the output is:
1 1
2 1
3 1
Separate anonymous methods can capture the same instance of an outer variable. In the example:
using System;
delegate void Setter(int value);
delegate int Getter();
class Test
{
static void Main() {
int x = 0;
Setter s = delegate(int value) { x = value; };
Getter g = delegate { return x; };
s(5);
Console.WriteLine(g());
s(10);
Console.WriteLine(g());
}
}
the two anonymous methods capture the same instance of the local variable x, and they can thus “communicate”
through that variable. The output of the example is:
5
10
21.6 Anonymous method evaluation
The run-time evaluation of an anonymous-method-expression produces a delegate instance which references the
anonymous method and the (possibly empty) set of captured outer variables that are active at the time of the
evaluation. When a delegate resulting from an anonymous-method-expression is invoked, the body of the
anonymous method is executed. The code in the body is executed using the set of captured outer variables
referenced by the delegate.
The invocation list of a delegate produced from an anonymous-method-expression contains a single entry. The
exact target object and target method of the delegate are unspecified. In particular, it is unspecified whether the
target object of the delegate is null, the this value of the enclosing function member, or some other object.
Evaluation of sematically identical anonymous-method-expressions with the same (possibly empty) set of
captured outer variable instances is permitted (but not required) to return the same delegate instance. The term
sematically identical is used here to mean that execution of the anonymous methods will, in all cases, produce
the same effects given the same arguments. This rule permits code such as the following to be optimized.
delegate double Function(double x);
Chapter 21 Anonymous methods
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 57
class Test
{
static double[] Apply(double[] a, Function f) {
double[] result = new double[a.Length];
for (int i = 0; i < a.Length; i++) result[i] = f(a[i]);
return result;
}
static void F(double[] a, double[] b) {
a = Apply(a, delegate(double x) { return Math.Sin(x); });
b = Apply(b, delegate(double y) { return Math.Sin(y); });
...
}
}
Since the two anonymous method delegates have the same (empty) set of captured outer variables, and since the
anonymous methods are semantically identical, the compiler is permitted to have the delegates refer to the same
target method. Indeed, the compiler is permitted to return the very same delegate instance from both anonymous
method expressions.
21.7 Delegate instance equality
The following rules govern the results produced by the equality operators (§7.9.8) and the Object.Equals
method for anonymous method delegate instances:
• Delegate instances produced from evaluation of semantically identical anonymous-method-expressions with
the same (possibly empty) set of captured outer variable instances are permitted (but not required) to be
equal.
• Delegate instances produced from evaluation of semantically different anonymous-method-expressions or
having different sets of captured outer variable instances are never equal.
21.8 Definite assignment
The definite assignment state of a parameter of an anonymous method is the same as for a parameter of a named
method. That is, reference parameters and value parameters are initially definitely assigned and output
parameters are initially unassigned. Furthermore, output parameters must be definitely assigned before the
anonymous method returns normally (§5.1.6).
The definite assignment state of an outer variable v on the control transfer to the block of an anonymous-methodexpression
is the same as the definite assignment state of v before the anonymous-method-expression. That is,
definite assignment of outer variables is inherited from the context of the anonymous-method-expression. Within
the block of an anonymous-method-expression, definite assignment evolves as in a normal block (§5.3.3).
The definite assignment state of a variable v after an anonymous-method-expression is the same as its definite
assignment state before the anonymous-method-expression.
The example
delegate bool Filter(int i);
void F() {
int max;
// Error, max is not definitely assigned
Filter f = delegate(int n) { return n < max; }
max = 5;
DoWork(f);
}
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generates a compile-time error since max is not definitely assigned where the anonymous method is declared.
The example
delegate void D();
void F() {
int n;
D d = delegate { n = 1; };
d();
// Error, n is not definitely assigned
Console.WriteLine(n);
}
also generates a compile-time error since the assignment to n in the anonymous method has no affect on the
definite assignment state of n outside the anonymous method.
21.9 Method group conversions
Similar to the implicit anonymous method conversions described in §21.3, an implicit conversion exists from a
method group (§7.1) to a compatible delegate type.
Given a method group E and a delegate type D, if a delegate creation expression (§7.5.10.3 and §20.9.6) of the
form new D(E) is permitted, then an implicit conversion from E to D also exists, and the result of that
conversion is exactly equivalent to writing new D(E).
In the example
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
class AlertDialog
{
Label message = new Label();
Button okButton = new Button();
Button cancelButton = new Button();`
public AlertDialog() {
okButton.Click += new EventHandler(OkClick);
cancelButton.Click += new EventHandler(CancelClick);
...
}
void OkClick(object sender, EventArgs e) {
...
}
void CancelClick(object sender, EventArgs e) {
...
}
}
the constructor creates two delegate instances using the new operator. Implicit method group conversions permit
this to be shortened to
public AlertDialog() {
okButton.Click += OkClick;
cancelButton.Click += CancelClick;
...
}
As with all other implicit and explicit conversions, the cast operator can be used to explicitly perform a
particular conversion. Thus, the example
object obj = new EventHandler(myDialog.OkClick);
Chapter 21 Anonymous methods
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 59
could instead be written
object obj = (EventHandler)myDialog.OkClick;
Method groups and anonymous method expressions may influence overload resolution, but do not participate in
type inferencing. See §20.6.4 for further details.
21.10 Implementation example
This section describes a possible implementation of anonymous methods in terms of standard C# constructs. The
implementation described here is based on the same principles used by the Microsoft C# compiler, but it is by
no means a mandated implementation, nor is it the only one possible.
The remainder of this section gives several examples of code that contains anonymous methods with different
characteristics. For each example, a corresponding translation to code that uses only standard C# constructs is
provided. In the examples, the identifier D is assumed by represent the following delegate type:
public delegate void D();
The simplest form of an anonymous method is one that captures no outer variables:
class Test
{
static void F() {
D d = delegate { Console.WriteLine("test"); };
}
}
This can be translated to a delegate instantiation that references a compiler generated static method in which the
code of the anonymous method is placed:
class Test
{
static void F() {
D d = new D(__Method1);
}
static void __Method1() {
Console.WriteLine("test");
}
}
In the following example, the anonymous method references instance members of this:
class Test
{
int x;
void F() {
D d = delegate { Console.WriteLine(x); };
}
}
This can be translated to a compiler generated instance method containing the code of the anonymous method:
class Test
{
int x;
void F() {
D d = new D(__Method1);
}
void __Method1() {
Console.WriteLine(x);
}
}
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In this example, the anonymous method captures a local variable:
class Test
{
void F() {
int y = 123;
D d = delegate { Console.WriteLine(y); };
}
}
The lifetime of the local variable must now be extended to at least the lifetime of the anonymous method
delegate. This can be achieved by “lifting” the local variable into a field of a compiler generated class.
Instantiation of the local variable (§21.5.2) then corresponds to creating an instance of the compiler generated
class, and accessing the local variable corresponds to accessing a field in the instance of the compiler generated
class. Furthermore, the anonymous method becomes an instance method of the compiler generated class:
class Test
{
void F() {
__locals1 = new __Locals1();
__locals1.y = 123;
D d = new D(__locals1.__Method1);
}
class __Locals1
{
public int y;
public void __Method1() {
Console.WriteLine(y);
}
}
}
Finally, the following anonymous method captures this as well as two local variables with different lifetimes:
class Test
{
int x;
void F() {
int y = 123;
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
int z = i * 2;
D d = delegate { Console.WriteLine(x + y + z); };
}
}
}
Here, a compiler generated class is created for each statement block in which locals are captured such that the
locals in the different blocks can have independent lifetimes. An instance of __Locals2, the compiler
generated class for the inner statement block, contains the local variable z and a field that references an instance
of __Locals1. An instance of __Locals1, the compiler generated class for the outer statement block,
contains the local variable y and a field that references this of the enclosing function member. With these data
structures it is possible to reach all captured outer variables through an instance of __Local2, and the code of
the anonymous method can thus be implemented as an instance method of that class.
Chapter 21 Anonymous methods
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 61
class Test
{
void F() {
__locals1 = new __Locals1();
__locals1.__this = this;
__locals1.y = 123;
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
__locals2 = new __Locals2();
__locals2.__locals1 = __locals1;
__locals2.z = i * 2;
D d = new D(__locals2.__Method1);
}
}
class __Locals1
{
public Test __this;
public int y;
}
class __Locals2
{
public __Locals1 __locals1;
public int z;
public void __Method1() {
Console.WriteLine(__locals1.__this.x + __locals1.y + z);
}
}
}

Chapter 22 Iterators
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 63
22. Iterators
22.1 Iterator blocks
An iterator block is a block (§8.2) that yields an ordered sequence of values. An iterator block is distinguished
from a normal statement block by the presence of one or more yield statements.
• The yield return statement produces the next value of the iteration.
• The yield break statement indicates that the iteration is complete.
An iterator block may be used as a method-body, operator-body or accessor-body as long as the return type of
the corresponding function member is one of the enumerator interfaces (§22.1.1) or one of the enumerable
interfaces (§22.1.2).
Iterator blocks are not a distinct element in the C# grammar. They are restricted in several ways and have a
major effect on the semantics of a function member declaration, but they are grammatically just blocks.
When a function member is implemented using an iterator block, it is a compile-time error for the formal
parameter list of the function member to specify any ref or out parameters.
It is a compile-time error for a return statement to appear in an iterator block (but yield return statements
are permitted).
It is a compile-time error for an iterator block to contain an unsafe context (§18.1). An iterator block always
defines a safe context, even when its declaration is nested in an unsafe context.
22.1.1 Enumerator interfaces
The enumerator interfaces are the non-generic interface System.Collections.IEnumerator and all
instantiations of the generic interface System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerator<T>. In this chapter,
these interfaces are referenced as IEnumerator and IEnumerator<T>, respectively.
22.1.2 Enumerable interfaces
The enumerable interfaces are the non-generic interface System.Collections.IEnumerable and all
instantiations of the generic interface System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable<T>. In this chapter,
these interfaces are referenced as IEnumerable and IEnumerable<T>, respectively.
22.1.3 Yield type
An iterator block produces a sequence of values, all of the same type. This type is called the yield type of the
iterator block.
• The yield type of an iterator block used to implement a function member that returns IEnumerator or
IEnumerable is object.
• The yield type of an iterator block used to implement a function member that returns IEnumerator<T> or
IEnumerable<T> is T.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
64 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
22.1.4 This access
Within an iterator block of an instance member of a class, the expression this is classified as a value. The type
of the value is the class within which the usage occurs, and the value is a reference to the object for which the
member was invoked.
Within an iterator block of an instance member of a struct, the expression this is classified as a variable. The
type of the variable is the struct within which the usage occurs. The variable represents a copy of the struct for
which the member was invoked. The this variable in an iterator block of an instance member of a struct
behaves exactly the same as a value parameter of the struct type.
22.2 Enumerator objects
When a function member returning an enumerator interface type is implemented using an iterator block,
invoking the function member does not immediately execute the code in the iterator block. Instead, an
enumerator object is created and returned. This object encapsulates the code specified in the iterator block, and
execution of the code in the iterator block occurs when the enumerator object’s MoveNext method is invoked.
An enumerator object has the following characteristics:
• It implements IEnumerator and IEnumerator<T>, where T is the yield type of the iterator block.
• It implements System.IDisposable.
• It is initialized with a copy of the argument values (if any) and instance value passed to the function
member.
• It has four potential states, before, running, suspended, and after, and is initially in the before state.
An enumerator object is typically an instance of a compiler-generated enumerator class that encapsulates the
code in the iterator block and implements the enumerator interfaces, but other methods of implementation are
possible. If an enumerator class is generated by the compiler, that class will be nested, directly or indirectly, in
the class containing the function member, it will have private accessibility, and it will have a name reserved for
compiler use (§2.4.2).
An enumerator object may implement more interfaces than those specified above.
The following sections describe the exact behavior of the MoveNext, Current, and Dispose members of the
IEnumerable and IEnumerable<T> interface implementations provided by an enumerator object.
Note that enumerator objects do not support the IEnumerator.Reset method. Invoking this method will
throw a System.NotSupportedException.
22.2.1 The MoveNext method
The MoveNext method of an enumerator object encapsulates the code of an iterator block. Invoking the
MoveNext method executes code in the iterator block and sets the Current property of the enumerator object
as appropriate. The precise action performed by MoveNext depends on the state of the enumerator object when
MoveNext is invoked:
• If the state of the enumerator object is before, invoking MoveNext:
o Changes the state to running.
o Initializes the parameters (including this) of the iterator block to the argument values and instance
value saved when the enumerator object was intialized.
o Executes the iterator block from the beginning until execution is interrupted (as described below).
• If the state of the enumerator object is running, the result of invoking MoveNext is unspecified.
Chapter 22 Iterators
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 65
• If the state of the enumerator object is suspended, invoking MoveNext:
o Changes the state to running.
o Restores the values of all local variables and parameters (including this) to the values saved when
execution of the iterator block was last suspended. Note that the contents of any objects referenced by
these variables may have changed since the previous call to MoveNext.
o Resumes execution of the iterator block immediately following the yield return statement that
caused the suspension of execution and continues until execution is interrupted (as described below).
• If the state of the enumerator object is after, invoking MoveNext returns false.
When MoveNext executes the iterator block, execution can be interrupted in four ways: By a yield return
statement, by a yield break statement, by encountering the end of the iterator block, and by an exception
being thrown and propagated out of the iterator block.
• When a yield return statement is encountered (§22.4):
o The expression given in the statement is evaluated, implicitly converted to the yield type, and assigned
to the Current property of the enumerator object.
o Execution of the iterator body is suspended. The values of all local variables and parameters (including
this) are saved, as is the location of this yield return statement. If the yield return statement is
within one or more try blocks, the associated finally blocks are not executed at this time.
o The state of the enumerator object is changed to suspended.
o The MoveNext method returns true to its caller, indicating that the iteration successfully advanced to
the next value.
• When a yield break statement is encountered (§22.4):
o If the yield break statement is within one or more try blocks, the associated finally blocks are
executed.
o The state of the enumerator object is changed to after.
o The MoveNext method returns false to its caller, indicating that the iteration is complete.
• When the end of the iterator body is encountered:
o The state of the enumerator object is changed to after.
o The MoveNext method returns false to its caller, indicating that the iteration is complete.
• When an exception is thrown and propagated out of the iterator block:
o Appropriate finally blocks in the iterator body will have been executed by the exception propagation.
o The state of the enumerator object is changed to after.
o The exception propagation continues to the caller of the MoveNext method.
22.2.2 The Current property
An enumerator object’s Current property is affected by yield return statements in the iterator block.
When an enumerator object is in the suspended state, the value of Current is the value set by the last call to
MoveNext. When an enumerator object is in the before, running, or after states, the result of accessing
Current is unspecified.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
66 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
For an iterator block with a yield type other than object, the result of accessing Current through the
enumerator object’s IEnumerable implementation corresponds to accessing Current through the enumerator
object’s IEnumerator<T> implementation and casting the result to object.
22.2.3 The Dispose method
The Dispose method is used to clean up the iteration by bringing the enumerator object to the after state.
• If the state of the enumerator object is before, invoking Dispose changes the state to after.
• If the state of the enumerator object is running, the result of invoking Dispose is unspecified.
• If the state of the enumerator object is suspended, invoking Dispose:
o Changes the state to running.
o Executes any finally blocks as if the last executed yield return statement were a yield break
statement. If this causes an exception to be thrown and propagated out of the iterator body, the state of
the enumerator object is set to after and the exception is propagated to the caller of the Dispose
method.
o Changes the state to after.
• If the state of the enumerator object is after, invoking Dispose has no affect.
22.3 Enumerable objects
When a function member returning an enumerable interface type is implemented using an iterator block,
invoking the function member does not immediately execute the code in the iterator block. Instead, an
enumerable object is created and returned. The enumerable object’s GetEnumerator method returns an
enumerator object that encapsulates the code specified in the iterator block, and execution of the code in the
iterator block occurs when the enumerator object’s MoveNext method is invoked. An enumerable object has the
following characteristics:
• It implements IEnumerable and IEnumerable<T>, where T is the yield type of the iterator block.
• It is initialized with a copy of the argument values (if any) and instance value passed to the function
member.
An enumerable object is typically an instance of a compiler-generated enumerable class that encapsulates the
code in the iterator block and implements the enumerable interfaces, but other methods of implementation are
possible. If an enumerable class is generated by the compiler, that class will be nested, directly or indirectly, in
the class containing the function member, it will have private accessibility, and it will have a name reserved for
compiler use (§2.4.2).
An enumerable object may implement more interfaces than those specified above. In particular, an enumerable
object may also implement IEnumerator and IEnumerator<T>, enabling it to serve as both an enumerable
and an enumerator. In that type of implementation, the first time an enumerable object’s GetEnumerator
method is invoked, the enumerable object itself is returned. Subsequent invocations of the enumerable object’s
GetEnumerator, if any, return a copy of the enumerable object. Thus, each returned enumerator has its own
state and changes in one enumerator will not affect another.
22.3.1 The GetEnumerator method
An enumerable object provides an implementation of the GetEnumerator methods of the IEnumerable and
IEnumerable<T> interfaces. The two GetEnumerator methods share a common implementation that aquires
and returns an available enumerator object. The enumerator object is initialized with the argument values and
Chapter 22 Iterators
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 67
instance value saved when the enumerable object was initialized, but otherwise the enumerator object functions
as described in §22.2.
22.4 The yield statement
The yield statement is used in an iterator block to yield a value to the enumerator object or to signal the end of
the iteration.
embedded-statement:
...
yield-statement
yield-statement:
yield return expression ;
yield break ;
To ensure compatibility with existing programs, yield is not a reserved word, and yield has special meaning
only when it is used immediately before a return or break keyword. In other contexts, yield can be used as
an identifier.
The are several restrictions on where a yield statement can appear, as described in the following.
• It is a compile-time error for a yield statement (of either form) to appear outside a method-body, operatorbody
or accessor-body
• It is a compile-time error for a yield statement (of either form) to appear inside an anonymous method.
• It is a compile-time error for a yield statement (of either form) to appear in the finally clause of a try
statement.
• It is a compile-time error for a yield return statement to appear anywhere in a try statement that
contains catch clauses.
The following example shows some valid and invalid uses of yield statements.
delegate IEnumerable<int> D();
IEnumerator<int> GetEnumerator() {
try {
yield return 1; // Ok
yield break; // Ok
}
finally {
yield return 2; // Error, yield in finally
yield break; // Error, yield in finally
}
try {
yield return 3; // Error, yield return in try...catch
yield break; // Ok
}
catch {
yield return 4; // Error, yield return in try...catch
yield break; // Ok
}
D d = delegate {
yield return 5; // Error, yield in an anonymous method
};
}
int MyMethod() {
yield return 1; // Error, wrong return type for an iterator block
}
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
68 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
An implicit conversion (§6.1) must exist from the type of the expression in the yield return statement to the
yield type (§22.1.3) of the iterator block.
A yield return statement is executed as follows:
• The expression given in the statement is evaluated, implicitly converted to the yield type, and assigned to
the Current property of the enumerator object.
• Execution of the iterator block is suspended. If the yield return statement is within one or more try
blocks, the associated finally blocks are not executed at this time.
• The MoveNext method of the enumerator object returns true to its caller, indicating that the enumerator
object successfully advanced to the next item.
The next call to the enumerator object’s MoveNext method resumes execution of the iterator block from where
it was last suspended.
A yield break statement is executed as follows:
• If the yield break statement is enclosed by one or more try blocks with associated finally blocks,
control is initially transferred to the finally block of the innermost try statement. When and if control
reaches the end point of a finally block, control is transferred to the finally block of the next enclosing
try statement. This process is repeated until the finally blocks of all enclosing try statements have been
executed.
• Control is returned to the caller of the iterator block. This is either the MoveNext method or Dispose
method of the enumerator object.
Because a yield break statement unconditionally transfers control elsewhere, the end point of a yield break
statement is never reachable.
22.4.1 Definite assignment
For a yield return statement stmt of the form:
yield return expr ;
• A variable v has the same definite assignment state at the beginning of expr as at the beginning of stmt.
• If a variable v is definitely assigned at the end of expr, it is definitely assigned at the end point of stmt;
otherwise; it is not definitely assigned at the end point of stmt.
22.5 Implementation example
This section describes a possible implementation of iterators in terms of standard C# constructs. The
implementation described here is based on the same principles used by the Microsoft C# compiler, but it is by
no means a mandated implementation or the only one possible.
The following Stack<T> class implements its GetEnumerator method using an iterator. The iterator
enumerates the elements of the stack in top to bottom order.
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class Stack<T>: IEnumerable<T>
{
T[] items;
int count;
Chapter 22 Iterators
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 69
public void Push(T item) {
if (items == null) {
items = new T[4];
}
else if (items.Length == count) {
T[] newItems = new T[count * 2];
Array.Copy(items, 0, newItems, 0, count);
items = newItems;
}
items[count++] = item;
}
public T Pop() {
T result = items[--count];
items[count] = T.default;
return result;
}
public IEnumerator<T> GetEnumerator() {
for (int i = count - 1; i >= 0; --i) yield items[i];
}
}
The GetEnumerator method can be translated into an instantiation of a compiler-generated enumerator class
that encapsulates the code in the iterator block, as shown in the following.
class Stack<T>: IEnumerable<T>
{
...
public IEnumerator<T> GetEnumerator() {
return new __Enumerator1(this);
}
class __Enumerator1: IEnumerator<T>, IEnumerator
{
int __state;
T __current;
Stack<T> __this;
int i;
public __Enumerator1(Stack<T> __this) {
this.__this = __this;
}
public T Current {
get { return __current; }
}
object IEnumerator.Current {
get { return __current; }
}
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
70 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
public bool MoveNext() {
switch (__state) {
case 1: goto __state1;
case 2: goto __state2;
}
i = __this.count - 1;
__loop:
if (i < 0) goto __state2;
__current = __this.items[i];
__state = 1;
return true;
__state1:
--i;
goto __loop;
__state2:
__state = 2;
return false;
}
public void Dispose() {
__state = 2;
}
void IEnumerator.Reset() {
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
}
In the preceding translation, the code in the iterator block is turned into a state machine and placed in the
MoveNext method of the enumerator class. Furthermore, the local variable i is turned into a field in the
enumerator object so it can continue to exist across invocations of MoveNext.
The following example prints a simple multiplication table of the integers 1 through 10. The FromTo method in
the example returns an enumerable object and is implemented using an iterator.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class Test
{
static IEnumerable<int> FromTo(int from, int to) {
while (from <= to) yield return from++;
}
static void Main() {
IEnumerable<int> e = FromTo(1, 10);
foreach (int x in e) {
foreach (int y in e) {
Console.Write("{0,3} ", x * y);
}
Console.WriteLine();
}
}
}
The FromTo method can be translated into an instantiation of a compiler-generated enumerable class that
encapsulates the code in the iterator block, as shown in the following.
using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
Chapter 22 Iterators
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 71
class Test
{
...
static IEnumerable<int> FromTo(int from, int to) {
return new __Enumerable1(from, to);
}
class __Enumerable1:
IEnumerable<int>, IEnumerable,
IEnumerator<int>, IEnumerator
{
int __state;
int __current;
int __from;
int from;
int to;
int i;
public __Enumerable1(int __from, int to) {
this.__from = __from;
this.to = to;
}
public IEnumerator<int> GetEnumerator() {
__Enumerable1 result = this;
if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref __state, 1, 0) != 0) {
result = new __Enumerable1(__from, to);
result.__state = 1;
}
result.from = result.__from;
return result;
}
IEnumerator IEnumerable.GetEnumerator() {
return (IEnumerator)GetEnumerator();
}
public int Current {
get { return __current; }
}
object IEnumerator.Current {
get { return __current; }
}
public bool MoveNext() {
switch (__state) {
case 1:
if (from > to) goto case 2;
__current = from++;
__state = 1;
return true;
case 2:
__state = 2;
return false;
default:
throw new InvalidOperationException();
}
}
public void Dispose() {
__state = 2;
}
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
72 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
void IEnumerator.Reset() {
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
}
The enumerable class implements both the enumerable interfaces and the enumerator interfaces, enabling it to
serve as both an enumerable and an enumerator. The first time the GetEnumerator method is invoked, the
enumerable object itself is returned. Subsequent invocations of the enumerable object’s GetEnumerator, if
any, return a copy of the enumerable object. Thus, each returned enumerator has its own state and changes in
one enumerator will not affect another. The Interlocked.CompareExchange method is used to ensure
thread-safe operation.
The from and to parameters are turned into fields in the enumerable class. Because from is modified in the
iterator block, an additional __from field is introduced to hold the initial value given to from in each
enumerator.
The MoveNext method throws an InvalidOperationException if it is called when __state is 0. This
protects against use of the enumerable object as an enumerator object without first calling GetEnumerator.
Chapter 23 Partial Types
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 73
23. Partial Types
23.1 Partial declarations
A new type modifier, partial, is used when defining a type in multiple parts. To ensure compatibility with
existing programs, this modifier is different than other modifiers: like get and set, it is not a keyword, and it
must appear immediately before one of the keywords class, struct, or interface.
class-declaration:
attributesopt class-modifiersopt partialopt class identifier type-parameter-listopt
class-baseopt type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt class-body ;opt
struct-declaration:
attributesopt struct-modifiersopt partialopt struct identifier type-parameter-listopt
struct-interfacesopt type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt struct-body ;opt
interface-declaration:
attributesopt interface-modifiersopt partialopt interface identifier type-parameter-listopt
interface-baseopt type-parameter-constraints-clausesopt interface-body ;opt
Each part of a partial type declaration must include a partial modifier and must be declared in the same
namespace as the other parts. The partial modifier indicates that additional parts of the type declaration may
exist elsewhere, but the existence of such additional parts is not a requirement; it is valid for just a single
declaration of a type to include the partial modifier.
All parts of a partial type must be compiled together such that the parts can be merged at compile-time. Partial
types specifically do not allow already compiled types to be extended.
Nested types may be declared in multiple parts by using the partial modifier. Typically, the containing type is
declared using partial as well, and each part of the nested type is declared in a different part of the containing
type.
The partial modifier is not permitted on delegate or enum declarations.
23.1.1 Attributes
The attributes of a partial type are determined by combining, in an unspecified order, the attributes of each of
the parts. If an attribute is placed on multiple parts, it is equivalent to specifying the attribute multiple times on
the type. For example, the two parts:
[Attr1, Attr2("hello")]
partial class A {}
[Attr3, Attr2("goodbye")]
partial class A {}
are equivalent to a declaration such as:
[Attr1, Attr2("hello"), Attr3, Attr2("goodbye")]
class A {}
Attributes on type parameters combine in a similar fashion.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
74 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
23.1.2 Modifiers
When a partial type declaration includes an accessibility specification (the public, protected, internal,
and private modifiers) it must agree with all other parts that include an accessibility specification. If no part of
a partial type includes an accessibility specification, the type is given the appropriate default accessibility
(§3.5.1).
If one or more partial declarations of a nested type include a new modifier, no warning is reported if the nested
type hides an inherited member (§3.7.1.2).
If one or more partial declarations of a class include an abstract modifier, the class is considered abstract
(§10.1.1.1). Otherwise, the class is considered non-abstract.
If one or more partial declarations of a class include a sealed modifier, the class is considered sealed
(§10.1.1.2). Otherwise, the class is considered unsealed.
Note that a class cannot be both abstract and sealed.
When the unsafe modifier is used on a partial type declaration, only that particular part is considered an unsafe
context (§18.1).
23.1.3 Type parameters and constraints
If a generic type is declared in multiple parts, each part must state the type parameters. Each part must have the
same number of type parameters, and the same name for each type parameter, in order.
When a partial generic type declaration includes type parameter constraints (where clauses), the constraints
must agree with all other parts that include constraints. Specifically, each part that includes constraints must
have constraints for the same set of type parameters, and for each type parameter the set of class, interface, and
constructor constrains must be the same. If no part of a partial generic type specifies type parameter constraints,
the type parameters are considered unconstrained.
The example
partial class Dictionary<K,V>
where K: IComparable<K>
where V: IKeyProvider<K>, IPersistable
{
...
}
partial class Dictionary<K,V>
where V: IPersistable, IKeyProvider<K>
where K: IComparable<K>
{
...
}
partial class Dictionary<K,V>
{
...
}
is correct because those parts that include constrains (the first two) effectively specify the same set of class,
interface, and constructor constraints for the same set of type parameters, respectively.
23.1.4 Base class
When a partial class declaration includes a base class specification it must agree with all other parts that include
a base class specification. If no part of a partial class includes a base class specification, the base class becomes
System.Object (§10.1.2.1).
Chapter 23 Partial Types
Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved. 75
23.1.5 Base interfaces
The set of base interfaces for a type declared in multiple parts is the union of the base interfaces specified on
each part. A particular base interface may only be named once on each part, but it is permitted for multiple parts
to name the same base interface(s). There must only be one implementation of the members of any given base
interface.
In the example
partial class C: IA, IB {...}
partial class C: IC {...}
partial class C: IA, IB {...}
the set of base interfaces for class C is IA, IB, and IC.
Typically, each part provides an implementation of the interface(s) declared on that part; however, this is not a
requirement. A part may provide the implementation for an interface declared on a different part:
partial class X
{
int IComparable.CompareTo(object o) {...}
}
partial class X: IComparable
{
...
}
23.1.6 Members
The members of a type declared in multiple parts is simply the union of the members declared in each part. The
bodies of all parts of the type declaration share the same declaration space (§3.3), and the scope of each member
(§3.7) extends to the bodies of all the parts. The accessibility domain of any member always includes all the
parts of the enclosing type; a private member declared in one part is freely accessible from another part. It is a
compile-time error to declare the same member in more than one part of the type, unless that member is a type
with the partial modifier.
partial class A
{
int x; // Error, cannot declare x more than once
partial class Inner // Ok, Inner is a partial type
{
int y;
}
}
partial class A
{
int x; // Error, cannot declare x more than once
partial class Inner // Ok, Inner is a partial type
{
int z;
}
}
Although the ordering of members within a type is not significant to C# code, it may be significant when
interfacing with other languages and environments. In these cases, the ordering of members within a type
declared in multiple parts is undefined.
C# 2.0 SPECIFICATION
76 Copyright  Microsoft Corporation 1999-2003. All Rights Reserved.
23.2 Name binding
Although each part of an extensible type must be declared within the same namespace, the parts are typically
written within different namespace declarations. Thus, different using directives (§9.3) may be present for each
part. When interpreting simple names (§7.5.2) within one part, only the using directives of the namespace
declaration(s) enclosing that part are considered. This may result in the same identifier having different
meanings in different parts:
namespace N
{
using List = System.Collections.ArrayList;
partial class A
{
List x; // x has type System.Collections.ArrayList
}
}
namespace N
{
using List = Widgets.LinkedList;
partial class A
{
List y; // y has type Widgets.LinkedList
}
}