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c#genericswhere-clausetype-constraints

C# generic "where constraint" with "any generic type" definition?


Let me give example:

  1. I have some generic class/interface definition:

    interface IGenericCar< T > {...}

  2. I have another class/interface that I want to relate with class above, for example:

    interface IGarrage< TCar > : where TCar: IGenericCar< (**any type here**) > {...}

Basically, I want my generic IGarrage to be dependent on IGenericCar, regardless if it's IGenericCar<int> or IGenericCar<System.Color>, because I don't have any dependency to that type.


Solution

  • There are typically 2 ways to achieve this.

    Option1: Add another parameter to IGarrage representing the T which should be passed into the IGenericCar<T> constraint:

    interface IGarrage<TCar,TOther> where TCar : IGenericCar<TOther> { ... }
    

    Option2: Define a base interface for IGenericCar<T> which is not generic and constrain against that interface

    interface IGenericCar { ... }
    interface IGenericCar<T> : IGenericCar { ... }
    interface IGarrage<TCar> where TCar : IGenericCar { ... }