Generic Method Overloading in C#

Introduction

I would like to introduce generic method overloading.

It would be good for you to already understand generics in C# but if not then please visit the following link.

Basics of Generic Classes in C#

First we will understand simple overloading then move towards generic overloading.

Steps and code

Add the following class to the project:

public class SimpleClass
{
public void GetData(int x)
{
Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData and Datetype:" + x.GetType().Name);
}
public void GetData(string xStr)
{
Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData and Datetype:" + xStr.GetType().Name);
}
}

Program.cs

class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
SimpleClass o = new SimpleClass();
o.GetData(345);
o.GetData("Devesh is testing the code");
Console.ReadKey();
}
}

Running the Code

The following will be the output:

output

Understanding the code

We have created the GetData function with overloaded functions having integer and string parameters.

When we passed an integer to the method first GetData (int x ) is called else if we passed a string then GetData(string xStr) is called.

Now we have a basic knowledge of method overloading.

Let us move towards Generic Method Overloading.

Now we are updating the GetData() method as a generic method.

public void GetData<T>(T obj)
{
Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData<T>,"+ obj.GetType().Name);
}

The following would be the complete code:

public class SimpleDemoClass
{
public void GetData<T>(T obj)
{
Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData<T>,"+ obj.GetType().Name);
}
public void GetData(int x)
{
Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData" + x.GetType().Name);
}
public void GetxNextData<T>(T obj)
{
GetData(obj);
}
}

Program.cs

class Program
{
Static void Main(string[] args)
{
SimpleDemoClass sobj = new SimpleDemoClass();
sobj.GetData("data is for testing by-Devesh");
sobj.GetData(95);
sobj.GetxNextData(1234);
Console.ReadKey();
}
}

Running code

Understanding the code.

Under standing the code

When we called sobj.GetData("data is for testing by-Devesh");
Getdata<T>(T obj) is called. Because we are passing a string and this is implicitly an object
When we called sobj.GetData(95);, GetData(int x ) is called because we are passing an integer to the GetData method.
During runtime, the compiler decides to invoke the best sutiable method to be invoked

Conclusion

Here we learned the basics of generic method overloading.