Casting System.Type to a specific class

Question

I'm getting the desired System.Type using reflection. I need to check if it is a descendant of Component class. If it is I need to add this particular class to List. What is the proper way to convert types?

  foreach (Type curType in allTypes)
  {
     if (curType descends from Component)
       componentsList.Add( (Component)curType );
  }

Answer 1

You can use IsSubClassOf :

if (typeof(Component).Equals(curType) || curType.IsSubClassOf(typeof(Component)))
{ }

Nonetheless, the Type is still a type , and not an instance , so if you think of adding instances to the list, you should check the instance, not the type.

If you have an instance, you'd better use is :

if (instance is Component)
{ }

If you intend to create a new instance of a specific type, use Activator.CreateInstance :

object instance = Activator.CreateInstance(curType);

Answer 2

You're looking for IsSubClassOf method. Note: this will report false if the curType is of same type of Component . You may need to add Equals check in that case.

if (curType.IsSubclassOf(typeof(Component)))
{
    //Do stuff
}

Answer 3

Casting of a type is not possible, but as you say in the comments:

I need to create a list of all types

So make your componentslist of type List<Type> , and add the types to that list.

You have done the check if they inherit from Component already, so only those types will end up in that list.