How to create object of a class where the class name is stored in string variable in C#

Question

I have a problem regarding creating a object of a class in c# where a class name is stored in a string variable

eg. String str="Pilot"

As we create object of the class like this
ClassName objectname=new ClassName();

due to some reason instead of ClassName i need to use String Variable which stores my Class name.

have a look at this question: [How do I create an instance from a string in C#?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/648160/how-do-i-create-an-instance-from-a-string-in-c) — , Mar 01 '13 at 18:42

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 01 '13 at 18:43

You would use Type.GetType(string) and then Activator.CreateInstance(Type):

Type type = Type.GetType(str);
object instance = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

Note:

The type name must include the namespace, e.g. Foo.Bar.SomeClassName
Unless you specify an assembly-qualified type name, Type.GetType(string) will only look in the currently executing assembly and mscorlib. If you want to use other assemblies, either use an assembly-qualified name or use Assembly.GetType(string) instead.
This assumes there's a public parameterless constructor for the type
Your variable type has to just be instance, as the type of a variable is part of what's needed at compile time

Jon, i think you answered this like 4 years ago: http://stackoverflow.com/a/648169/21567 :-) — Christian.K, Mar 01 '13 at 18:46

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 01 '13 at 18:43

0

Here is an example. You will probably need to specify the full namespace path.

Namespace.Pilot config = (Namespace.Pilot)Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetType("Namespace.Pilot"));

answered Mar 01 '13 at 18:43

Adam Plocher

13,994
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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 01 '13 at 18:44

0

You would use Reflection to do so:

var type = Assembly.Load("MyAssembly").GetTypes().Where(t => t.Name.Equals(str));
return Activator.CreateInstance(type);

answered Mar 01 '13 at 18:44

Corey Adler

15,897
18
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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 01 '13 at 18:44

You can do this via usage of the Activator:

var type = "System.String";
var reallyAString = Activator.CreateInstance(
        // need a Type here, so get it by type name
        Type.GetType(type), 
        // string's has no parameterless ctor, so use the char array one
        new char[]{'a','b','c'});
Console.WriteLine(reallyAString);
Console.WriteLine(reallyAString.GetType().Name);

Output:

abc
String

How to create object of a class where the class name is stored in string variable in C#

4 Answers4