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The Cosmic C# String Theory

All Objects is C# are derived from System.Object. System.Object has “Cosmic” Universal Methods:

GetType () – This Method uses Reflection to “Reflect” on the Object to determine its C# Type. For two objects that have identical runtime types, x and y, the following example of the ReferenceEquals (Object left, Object right) Method Object.ReferenceEquals (x.GetType (), y.GetType()) returns true. 

ToString () – This Method allows all C# Software Entities to have a suitable informational display representation. ToString () is the major formatting method in the .NET Framework. It converts an Object to its “String Representation”

GetHashCode () – Gets a numeric value that is used to identify an object during equality testing. It can also serve as an index for an object in a collection. The GetHashCode () method is suitable for use in hashing algorithms and data structures such as a hash table

You can override the .ToString() method to get useful information from complex Types that simply return the string display of the Type. This is generally not very useful in your programs.

The Overridden C# ToString() Method

You override the toString method to product an output for the Consuming Software Entity to use for populating controls and other useful purposes like Intellisense debugging.

Here is an example of a State DTO Object ToString() result without an Overload:

var dtoStringInfo = contact.ToString();

Resulting Display for CustomerContactsDtoRequest: TCMS.Models.CustomerContacts.Aggregates.Contact

It simply returns the Run-time Type

Here is an example of the same State DTO Object .ToString() result with this Overload:

        public override string ToString()

        {

            return string.Format(“{0} is a {1} contact with an address of {2} in {3}, {4} with a zip code of {5}”,

                                  Name, Type, Address, City, State, Zip);

        }

Displayed Value:
Jim Smith is a Sales contact with an address of 123 Main in AnyTown, AnyState with a zip code of 12345

It Returns a Usable Representation of the Class Properties

When in Debug Mode a simple hover over the variable will reveal all of the values for validation without having to drill down into the object.

When used at Run-time the object provides a fully functional display of the State Information for Application usage without Additional Process Formatting.

IFormattable and the IFormatProvider Interfaces

… Sometimes you need more than just the simple overload demonstrated above

Bill Wagner’s 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your C# in a PDF Download:

Item 5 is a Detailed Analysis of C# ToString() Overrides!