How can I get class fields through reflection when backing fields are present?

Question

I have a simple POCO class, e.g.

class C {
  [MyAtrib]
  public int i {get; set;}
  [MyAtrib]  
  public int i2;
}

When I call:

GetType().GetFields(
  BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance);

on that class (instance) I can't get the FieldInfo for those members that have automatically generated getters/setters (i.e. int i above).

Actually, I'm trying to read those custom attributes (MyAtrib) and can't do it for those properties that have {get; set;}.

Why is that? I'd expect to get both i and it's (private) backing field, since i is public.

Can I get to i's MyAtrib somehow through reflection?

Those with getters and setters are not fields; they are properties. — Austin Salonen, Oct 16 '13 at 17:38
You definitely get the backing field, using BindingFlags.NonPublic is sufficient. It has an unspeakable name, `k__BackingField`. The attribute is *not* applied to the backing field, it exists on the property. Calling GetProperty() is required to retrieve it. — Hans Passant, Oct 16 '13 at 18:44

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 16 '13 at 17:58

9

You get fields right now, but public int i {get; set;} is a property. You need to get properties:

// note: properties -> generally public
GetType().GetProperties(BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.Public);

edited Oct 16 '13 at 17:58

Alexei Levenkov

answered Oct 16 '13 at 17:41

Misha Zaslavsky

1 Answers1