In this blog, we will look into one of the new
feature of C# 4.5 which gives details of the caller of a method. This feature is
implemented using new compiler services in 4.5 and helps us to get caller
method's name, its line number and file path. This feature helps us in logging
and modifying method's logic based on its caller method. Let's create a sample
C# console application targeting 4.5 framework as shown below:
We will use CallerMemberName, CallerLineNumber and CallerFilePath attributes
part of System.Runtime.CompilerServices namespace to get details of caller's
method as shown below:
class
Program
{
static void Main(string[]
args)
{
CallMe();
MethodA();
Console.ReadLine();
}
private static
void MethodA()
{
CallMe();
}
public static
void CallMe([CallerMemberName] string
CallerName = "", [CallerLineNumber]
int CalledFrom = 0, [CallerFilePath]
string CallerFilePath =
"")
{
if (CallerName == "MethodA")
{
//Your Logic based on Caller
}
Console.WriteLine("Called
From: " + CallerName + " Method \r\nLine
Number: " + CalledFrom.ToString() + "\r\nFile
Path: " + CallerFilePath);
Console.WriteLine();
}
}
Run the application, it shows below output:
These attributes can only be applied on optional parameters [having default
values] and can be used on a method, event, property, constructor [returns “.ctor”],
destructor [returns “Finalize”] etc.
By using this new feature, we can do logging for diagnostics, change method's
behavior based on caller's name as well as in implementing the
INotifyPropertyChanged interface when binding data
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