How to access different types of classes in a single object array in C#

Question

I have an object array that is supposed to hold objects of different classes. I need to write down the attributes of those classes but don't know how to access them.

For example:

object[] NationalTeam;

possibly holding:

class Swimmer
class Runner

etc.

with different attributes. Can't access them with NationalTeam[i]. Can it be done with overloading [] indexer? If yes, how?

Daniel A. White · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-24 14:40:41Z

4

You will have to either:

Cast them:

object teamMember = NationalTeam[0];

if (teamMember is Swimmer)
{
    Swimmer swimmerTeamMember = (Swimmer)teamMember;
    // Work with swimmer
}
// ... and so on

Add and implement an interface or base class such as ITeamMember or TeamMember.

interface ITeamMember { /* common properties */ }
class Swimmer : ITeamMember { /* ... */ }
ITeamMember[] NationalTeam;

Or use a combination of both.

Eric Lippert (one of the designers of C#) has a fantastic walk through to explain a very similar problem. I suggest that you read it. http://ericlippert.com/2015/04/27/wizards-and-warriors-part-one/

edited Oct 24, 2015 at 14:40

answered Oct 24, 2015 at 14:29

Daniel A. White

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4 Comments

Thyl Over a year ago

Can't do 'object teamMember = NationalTeam[0];' becouse National team is still empty. It's not static.

Thyl Over a year ago

I'm a newbe, need some clues.

Daniel A. White Over a year ago

@Thyl that's a separate question. You will have to narrow down how the data is stored

Daniel A. White Over a year ago

@Thyl i would ask that in a separate post.

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