how to get byte size of type in generic list?

Question

I have this generic list and I want to get the byte size of the type like if T is string or int etc., I tried both ways as written in getByteSize(), and just to let you know I am using only one way at a time ...

but when I try to compile, it gives an error saying "Error: The type or namespace name 'typeParameterType' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)"

public class iList<T> : List<T> 
    { 
        public int getByteSize ()
        {
            // way 1
            Type typeParameterType = typeof(T);
            return sizeof(typeParameterType);

            // way 2
            Type typeParameterType = this.GetType().GetGenericArguments()[0];
            return sizeof(typeParameterType);
        }
    }

And idea what I am doing wrong here?

Answer 1

sizeof is only going to work on value types.

For a string, you won't know the actual byte size until you populate it.

If you are set on doing this, serialize the list and measure it then. While not a guaranteed way, it is probably better than the alternative. Scratch that. It won't get you what you want without some real effort, if at all. You could perform a quick and dirty count like so:

public int getListSize()
{
    Type type = typeof(T);

    if (type.IsEnum)
    {
        return this.Sum(item => Marshal.SizeOf(Enum.GetUnderlyingType(type)));
    }
    if (type.IsValueType)
    {
        return this.Sum(item => Marshal.SizeOf(item));
    }
    if (type == typeof(string))
    {
        return this.Sum(item => Encoding.Default.GetByteCount(item.ToString()));
    }
    return 32 * this.Count;
}

If you really want to know more about size, here is a comprehensive answer on the topic.