check to see if a property exists within a C# Expando class

Question

I would like to see if a property exist in a C# Expando Class.

much like the hasattr function in python. I would like the c# equalant for hasattr.

something like this...

if (HasAttr(model, "Id"))
{
  # Do something with model.Id
}

Solution

Try:

dynamic yourExpando = new ExpandoObject();
if (((IDictionary<string, Object>)yourExpando).ContainsKey("Id"))
{
    //Has property...
}

An ExpandoObject explicitly implements IDictionary<string, Object>, where the Key is a property name. You can then check to see if the dictionary contains the key. You can also write a little helper method if you need to do this kind of check often:

private static bool HasAttr(ExpandoObject expando, string key)
{
    return ((IDictionary<string, Object>) expando).ContainsKey(key);
}

And use it like so:

if (HasAttr(yourExpando, "Id"))
{
    //Has property...
}

Comments

[Martin_W]

It would perhaps be nice, but C# won't allow an extension method on a dynamic object. See [stackoverflow.com/questions/12501773/….

[ZunTzu]

What about adding a dynamic method named HasAttr to the expando object? Something like this: expando.HasAttr = new Func<bool>((string key) => ((IDictionary<string, Object>) expando).ContainsKey(key));