Extension Methods

Extension methods are static methods, in static classes, marked up to be added to existing types without creating a new derived type, or modifying the original type. You can use extension methods to extend a class or interface. This feature was introduced in C# 3.0

In this example we will implement extension methods for two different data types: DateTime, and IEnumerable

This is the implementation of the methods in this example

 
    public static class ExtensionMethods
    {
        public static string ToLetterFormat(this DateTime dateTime)
        {
            return dateTime.ToString("MMMM d',' yyyy");
        }

        public static IEnumerable<string> GetOnlyStrings<T>(this IEnumerable<T> list)
        {
            foreach (var item in list)
            {
                if (item is string)
                    yield return item as string;
            }
        }
    }
        

The markup that makes these extension methods is the keyword this used before the first parameter in the parameter list of the method. This keyword is specific to C#, and it instructs the compiler to add the ExtensionMethodAttribute to the method

The first method produces a result like this:

  
    string letterFormatDate = (DateTime.Today).ToLetterFormat();

    Console.WriteLine(letterFormatDate);
    Console.ReadKey();
        

The second method produces this result:

 
    customList.ForEach(l => Console.WriteLine(l.GetType().ToString()));
    Console.ReadKey();

    List<string> allStringsFromCustomList = customList.GetOnlyStrings().ToList();

    Console.WriteLine(Environment.NewLine);

    allStringsFromCustomList.ForEach(s => Console.WriteLine(s));

    Console.ReadKey();
        

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