How to dynamically set the value of a property of object instance using reflection?

Question

Given a basic class definition:

using System.Reflection;

public class Car()
{
  public int speed {get;set;}

  public void setSpeed()
  {
       Type type = this.GetType(); 
       PropertyInfo property = type.GetProperty(PropertyName );
       property.SetValue(type, Convert.ToInt32(PropertyValue), null);
  }
}

This code sample is simplified and not using dynamic type conversion, I just want a working sample to set that property on the instance.

Edit: PropertyName and PropertyValue in above code is also simplified.

Thanks in advance

@CuongLe it's trying to set the value of a property that belongs to the type `Car` on an instance of type `System.Type` which will not work — Rune FS, Oct 26 '12 at 08:43

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 26 '12 at 07:45

The first argument you pass should be the instance holding the property you wish to set. If it's a static property pass null for the first argument. In your case change the code to:

  public void setSpeed()
  {
       Type type = this.GetType(); 
       PropertyInfo property = type.GetProperty(PropertyName );
       property.SetValue(this, Convert.ToInt32(PropertyValue), null);
  }

for a naïve type conversion you could do

   var value = Convert.ChangeType(PropertyValue,property.PropertyType);
   property.SetValue(this, value, null);

How to dynamically set the value of a property of object instance using reflection?

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