C# overriding GetHashCode on a string type

Question

Is it possible to override the GetHashCode method for a string, int, int32 etc..

I dont want to create a new object or class and override it that away. I wonder if there was a way to override the type's method. Similar to an extension but not really.

string myString = "sometext";
myString.GetHashCode(); -- I want to override this method.

No, sorry you cant override a method without inheriting from a base class and `string` and `structs` can not be inherited from. — Magnus, Jun 26 '12 at 14:09

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 26 '12 at 14:24

No, you cannot. Even if you added an extension method, if there is an instance method and an extension method with the same signature being called then the instance method wins. You also can't extend string or int because they're sealed. The best you'd be able to do is create an entirely new class/struct with a string/int property that overrides GetHashCode with your own implementation (you could provide implicit conversions to string or int as well if you wanted.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 26 '12 at 14:01

I think you can only do it if it's in another class [http://stackoverflow.com/questions/371328/why-is-it-important-to-override-gethashcode-when-equals-method-is-overriden-in-c]

Plus, I don't think you'd want to overwrite it globally because there is a strong likely hood that other things will be using that base GetHashCode()

Finally, ask yourself "Why do you want to do this?" If you don't have a really good reason, you don't need to do it.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 26 '12 at 14:01

If you do not want to create your own class, then no because an override is only possible within a subclass.

An alternative would be to create a custom extension method like:

public static class MyExtensions
{
    public static int GetHashCode2(this string s)
    { 
         // Implementation
    }
}

This would have a similar effect, but you would need to call .GetHashCode2() rather than .GetHashCode()

C# overriding GetHashCode on a string type

3 Answers3