Generic Method Overloading in C#

Introduction

I would like to introduce generic method overloading.

It would be good for you to already understand generics in C# but if not then please visit the following link.

Basics of Generic Classes in C#

First we will understand simple overloading then move towards generic overloading.

Steps and code

Add the following class to the project:

public class SimpleClass
{
    public void GetData(int x)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData and Datetype:" + x.GetType().Name);
    }

    public void GetData(string xStr)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData and Datetype:" + xStr.GetType().Name);
    }
}

Program.cs

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        SimpleClass o = new SimpleClass();
        o.GetData(345);
        o.GetData("Devesh is testing the code");
        Console.ReadKey();
    }
}

Running the Code

The following will be the output:



Understanding the code

We have created the GetData function with overloaded functions having integer and string parameters.

When we passed an integer to the method first GetData (int x ) is called else if we passed a string then GetData(string xStr) is called.



Now we have a basic knowledge of method overloading.
 
Let us move towards Generic Method Overloading.

Now we are updating the GetData() method as a generic method.

public void GetData<T>(T obj)
{
    Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData<T>,"+ obj.GetType().Name);
}

The following would be the complete code:

public class SimpleDemoClass
{
     public void GetData<T>(T obj)
     {
        Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData<T>,"+ obj.GetType().Name);
     }
     public void GetData(int x)
     {
        Console.WriteLine("INSIDE GetData" + x.GetType().Name);
     }
     public void GetxNextData<T>(T obj)
     {
         GetData(obj);
     }
 }

Program.cs

class Program
{
      Static void Main(string[] args)
      {
           SimpleDemoClass sobj = new SimpleDemoClass();
           sobj.GetData("data is for testing by-Devesh");
           sobj.GetData(95);
           sobj.GetxNextData(1234);
           Console.ReadKey();
       }
}

Running code



Understanding the code.

• When we called sobj.GetData("data is for testing by-Devesh");
• Getdata<T>(T obj) is called. Because we are passing a string and this is implicitly an object
• When we called sobj.GetData(95);, GetData(int x ) is called because we are passing an integer to the GetData method.
• During runtime, the compiler decides to invoke the best sutiable method to be invoked

Conclusion

Here we learned the basics of generic method overloading.