C# - Get the item type for a generic list

Question

What would be the best way of getting the type of items a generic list contains? It\'s easy enough to grab the first item in the collection and call .GetType(), but I can\'

Answer 1

list.GetType().GetGenericArguments()[0]

Answer 2

You could use the Type.GetGenericArguments method for this purpose.

List<Foo> myList = ...

Type myListElementType = myList.GetType().GetGenericArguments().Single();

Answer 3

Public Shared Function ListItemType(ListType As System.Type) As System.Type

  If Not ListType.IsGenericType Then
    If ListType.BaseType IsNot Nothing AndAlso ListType.BaseType.IsGenericType Then
      Return ListItemType(ListType.BaseType)
    End If
  Else
    Return ListType.GetGenericArguments.Single
  End If
End Function