Getting Started

Installation

Install the core package via NuGet:

dotnet add package Cocoar.Reflectensions

For dynamic method invocation or expandable objects, add the specialized packages:

dotnet add package Cocoar.Reflectensions.Invoke
dotnet add package Cocoar.Reflectensions.ExpandableObject

TIP

The core package has zero external dependencies and targets both .NET 8.0 and .NET Standard 2.0.

Quick Examples

1. Parse Type Names from Strings

Resolve complex generic types from human-readable strings:

using Cocoar.Reflectensions;

// Parse generic types from strings
var type = TypeHelper.FindType("Dictionary<string, List<int>>");
// Returns: typeof(Dictionary<string, List<int>>)

// Works with CLR syntax too
var type2 = TypeHelper.FindType(
    "System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[System.String, System.Int32]");

// Custom type mappings (e.g. TypeScript to C#)
var mapping = new Dictionary<string, string> { ["number"] = "double" };
var type3 = TypeHelper.FindType("List<number>", mapping);
// Returns: typeof(List<double>)

2. Query Reflection with Fluent Extensions

Filter methods, check type relationships, and inspect types using chainable extension methods:

using Cocoar.Reflectensions;

// Filter methods fluently
var methods = typeof(Calculator).GetMethods()
    .WithName("Calculate")
    .WithReturnType<double>()
    .WithParametersOfType(typeof(int), typeof(int));

// Check type relationships
bool isDict    = type.IsGenericTypeOf<Dictionary<,>>();
bool inherits  = type.InheritFromClass<BaseClass>();
bool implements = type.ImplementsInterface<IDisposable>();
bool castable  = type.IsImplicitCastableTo<string>();

3. Convert Objects with Smart Type Conversion

Convert between types intelligently using the Reflect() entry point:

using Cocoar.Reflectensions;

// Parse a date string
string dateStr = "2021-03-21T15:50:17+00:00";
DateTime date = dateStr.Reflect().To<DateTime>();

// With fallback value
object maybeNumber = "not a number";
int number = maybeNumber.Reflect().To<int>(42); // Returns 42

// Try pattern for safe conversion
if (value.Reflect().TryTo<DateTime>(out var result))
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Parsed: {result}");
}

Next Steps

• Why Reflectensions? — what problems this library solves
• Type Parsing — full type resolution reference
• Type Extensions — all type checking methods
• Smart Type Conversion — conversion strategies in detail
• API Overview — complete API reference