How to return Generic List with Generic Class Object in c#?

Question

I want to return Table List with there class object and this call also generic, I don't want to use any Non-Strong type List like ArrayList on any other.

        public List<T> GetTables()
        {
            var tbls = new List<T>();
            tbls.Add(new Table<Table1>() { Name = "Table1"});
            tbls.Add(new Table<Table2>() { Name = "Table2"});
            tbls.Add(new Table<Table3>() { Name = "Table3"});
            return tbls;
        }

in above Method, Table1, Table2, and any type table class object... There classes has no any based class, These classes use to Set of table properties with custom format.

I want to return it.

Please help me if anyone have any idea.

thank you.

Answer 1

You can't use generic type with the List without specifying type parameter explicitly. Alternatively, you can create a base class or interface that would be a parameter for the List.

I mean:

        public static List<ITable> GetTables()
        {
            var tbls = new List<ITable>();
            tbls.Add(new Table<Table1> { Name = "Table1"});
            tbls.Add(new Table<Table2> { Name = "Table2"});
            tbls.Add(new Table<Table3> { Name = "Table3"});
            return tbls;
        }

        public class Table<T> : ITable
        {
            public T TableInstance { get; set; }
            public Type TableType => typeof(T);
            public string Name { get; set; }
        }

        public interface ITable
        {
            Type TableType { get; }
            public string Name { get; set; }
        }