Best way to get a Type object from a string in .NET

.net reflection system.reflection
Jonathan Allen picture Jonathan Allen · Mar 3, 2009 · Viewed 13.6k times · Source

What is the best way to convert a string into a Type object in .NET?

Issues to consider:

  • The type may be in a different assembly.
  • The type's assembly may not be loaded yet.

This is my attempt, but it doesn't address the second issue

Public Function FindType(ByVal name As String) As Type
    Dim base As Type

    base = Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly.GetType(name, False, True)
    If base IsNot Nothing Then Return base

    base = Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly.GetType(name, False, True)
    If base IsNot Nothing Then Return base

    For Each assembly As Reflection.Assembly In _
      AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies
        base = assembly.GetType(name, False, True)
        If base IsNot Nothing Then Return base
    Next
    Return Nothing
End Function

Answer

JaredPar picture JaredPar · Mar 3, 2009

You can use Type.GetType(string) in order to do this. The type name must be assembly qualified but the method will load the assembly as necessary. The assembly qualification is not necessary if the type is in mscorlid or the assembly which executes the GetType call.

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