Generic TypeOf operator?

Question

Dim x = GetType(List(Of )) 'valid statement
Dim list As New List(Of String)

Now I want to see if list is a List(Of T) variable:

Dim isList = TypeOf list Is List(Of )

On the last line I get a compile error: "Type Expected".

Is there any cheap-performance TypeOf operator alternative for generics?

Answer 1

You will have to do this with reflection:

Dim type = list.[GetType]()
Dim isList = type.IsGenericType AndAlso
    type.GetGenericTypeDefinition() = GetType(List(Of ))

Answer 2

Unfortunately, this is not possible.

You need to call GetType() and check IsGenericType and GetGenericTypeDefinition.

Answer 3

See Hanselman's blog: http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TheVBEquivalentToCTypeofKeyword.aspx

GetType(T) - it is that simple :).