Lambdaexpression of Linq-query in a variable

Question

How can I define a lambdaexpression that I want to use in a linq query as a variable?

For example when sorting a generic list by different properties of the listitems:

 IList<SampleClass> list = new List<SampleClass>();

 // Populate list
 ...

 list.OrderBy(sampleclass => sampleclass.property1);
 list.OrderBy(sampleclass => sampleclass.property2);

I would like to define the lambda expression (sampleclass => sampleclass.property1) in a variable and call:

// ??? define expression in a variable ???
Expression expression = sampleclass => sampleclass.property1;

// Sort list by variable expression
list.OrderBy(expression);

Thanks in advance Tobi

k.m · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-25 07:21:41Z

5

You can use one of Func overloads (Func<T, TResult> precisely):

Func<SampleClass, PropertyType> expr = sampleclass => sampleclass.property1;
list.OrderBy(expr);

PropertyType is the type of variable stored as property1 in your SampleClass. If it was for example string, you would use Func<SampleClass, string>.

answered May 25, 2011 at 7:21

k.m

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Comments

Shimmy Weitzhandler · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-25 07:24:34Z

2

Define a Func<TSampleClass, TPropertyType> as follows:

  List<SampleClass> list = new List<SampleClass>();   
  Func<SampleClass, int> expr = (c) => c.SomeProperty;
  _HungerLevel = level;


  class SampleClass
  {
    public int SomeProperty { get; set; }
  }

answered May 25, 2011 at 7:24

Shimmy Weitzhandler

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2 Comments

Tobias Over a year ago

this does not work: "Cannot assign lambda-expression to an implicity-typed local variable"

aligray Over a year ago

@Tobias Did you use the var keyword when declaring the Func?

aligray · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-25 07:24:24Z

1

You can use:

Func<SampleClass, int> f = sampleClass => sampleClass.Property1;
list.OrderBy(f);

This presumes the type of Property1 is int.

answered May 25, 2011 at 7:24

aligray

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Comments

Ssithra · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-25 07:27:30Z

1

You have almost already done it.

The parameter is any function taking an item from the sequence and giving its key as a result (the key on which the ordering will be done). A lambda expression is just a variety of such a function.

These notations are possible :

list.OrderBy(sampleclass => sampleclass.property1);

or

Func<SampleClass,string> getKey = sampleclass => sampleclass.property1;
list.OrderBy(getKey);

or

string GetKey(SampleClass sampleclass)
{
    return sampleclass.property1;
}

list.OrderBy(GetKey);

(I supposed here that property1 was a string but it's of course not a requirement !)

answered May 25, 2011 at 7:27

Ssithra

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Comments

Euphoric · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-25 07:30:46Z

0

Just like other people said, you can use Func<T, TResult> to store delegate to your function.

If you want to use something else than Linq-To-Objects, then you should enclose this in Expression too. Something like Expression<Func<T, TResult>>.

answered May 25, 2011 at 7:30

Euphoric

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Comments

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 10:27:45Z

If you are talking purely about LINQ to Objects, there's no need for Expressions here because the argument to Enumerable.OrderBy is a Func delegate:

var list = new List<SampleClass> ();

Func<SampleClass, PropertyType1) orderSelector1 = (obj => obj.Property1); // parentheses for clarity
var sequence1 = list.OrderBy (orderSelector1);

Func<SampleClass, PropertyType2) orderSelector1 = (obj => obj.Property2);
var sequence2 = list.OrderBy (orderSelector2);

If you want to assign multiple times, you can make Func return object:

var list = new List<SampleClass> ();
Func<SampleClass, object> orderSelector;

orderSelector = (obj => obj.Property1);
var sequence1 = list.OrderBy (orderSelector);

orderSelector = (obj => obj.Property2);
var sequence2 = list.OrderBy (orderSelector);

If you truly want dynamic property selection, i.e. calling OrderBy with a property specified by a string, you would need Expressions. There are plenty of examples in this thread that allow you to do something like:

var list = new List<SampleClass> ();
var sequence1 = list.OrderBy ("Property1");
var sequence2 = list.OrderBy ("Property2");

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