C# getting its own class name

540
votes

If I have a class called MyProgram, is there a way of retrieving "MyProgram" as a string?

11
c#reflection

11 Answers

859
votes

Try this:

this.GetType().Name
263
votes

I wanted to throw this up for good measure. I think the way @micahtan posted is preferred.

typeof(MyProgram).Name
215
votes

With C# 6.0, you can use the nameof operator:

nameof(MyProgram)
139
votes

Although micahtan's answer is good, it won't work in a static method. If you want to retrieve the name of the current type, this one should work everywhere:

string className = MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType.Name;
17
votes

If you need this in derived classes, you can put that code in the base class:

protected string GetThisClassName() { return this.GetType().Name; }

Then, you can reach the name in the derived class. Returns derived class name. Of course, when using the new keyword "nameof", there will be no need like this variety acts.

Besides you can define this:

public static class Extension
{
    public static string NameOf(this object o)
    {
        return o.GetType().Name;
    }
}

And then use like this:

public class MyProgram
{
    string thisClassName;

    public MyProgram()
    {
        this.thisClassName = this.NameOf();
    }
}
16
votes

For reference, if you have a type that inherits from another you can also use

this.GetType().BaseType.Name
10
votes

Use this

Let say Application Test.exe is running and function is foo() in form1 [basically it is class form1], then above code will generate below response.

string s1 = System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType.Name;

This will return . 

s1 = "TEST.form1"

for function name: 

string s1 = System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().Name;

will return

s1 = foo

Note if you want to use this in exception use :

catch (Exception ex)
{

    MessageBox.Show(ex.StackTrace );

}
4
votes

this can be omitted. All you need to get the current class name is: 

GetType().Name
3
votes

Get Current class name of Asp.net 

string CurrentClass = System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType.Name.ToString();
0
votes

This can be used for a generic class

typeof(T).Name

0
votes

The easiest way is to use the call name attribute. However, currently, there is no attribute class that returns the class name or the namespace of the calling method.

See: CallerMemberNameAttributeClass

public void DoProcessing()
{
    TraceMessage("Something happened.");
}

public void TraceMessage(string message,
        [System.Runtime.CompilerServices.CallerMemberName] string memberName = "",
        [System.Runtime.CompilerServices.CallerFilePath] string sourceFilePath = "",
        [System.Runtime.CompilerServices.CallerLineNumber] int sourceLineNumber = 0)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Trace.WriteLine("message: " + message);
    System.Diagnostics.Trace.WriteLine("member name: " + memberName);
    System.Diagnostics.Trace.WriteLine("source file path: " + sourceFilePath);
    System.Diagnostics.Trace.WriteLine("source line number: " + sourceLineNumber);
}

// Sample Output:
//  message: Something happened.
//  member name: DoProcessing
//  source file path: c:\Users\username\Documents\Visual Studio 2012\Projects\CallerInfoCS\CallerInfoCS\Form1.cs
//  source line number: 31