Differences between ExpandoObject, DynamicObject and dynamic

c# .net dynamic expandoobject dynamicobject
M4N picture M4N · Aug 25, 2010 · Viewed 46.4k times · Source

What are the differences between System.Dynamic.ExpandoObject, System.Dynamic.DynamicObject and dynamic?

In which situations do you use these types?

Answer

SLaks picture SLaks · Aug 25, 2010

The dynamic keyword is used to declare variables that should be late-bound.
If you want to use late binding, for any real or imagined type, you use the dynamic keyword and the compiler does the rest.

When you use the dynamic keyword to interact with a normal instance, the DLR performs late-bound calls to the instance's normal methods.

The IDynamicMetaObjectProvider interface allows a class to take control of its late-bound behavior.
When you use the dynamic keyword to interact with an IDynamicMetaObjectProvider implementation, the DLR calls the IDynamicMetaObjectProvider methods and the object itself decides what to do.

The ExpandoObject and DynamicObject classes are implementations of IDynamicMetaObjectProvider.

ExpandoObject is a simple class which allows you to add members to an instance and use them dynamically.
DynamicObject is a more advanced implementation which can be inherited to easily provide customized behavior.

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