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Use reflection to invoke an overridden base method

Asked 2010-12-05T06:49:23.833
23

How to use reflection call a base method that is overridden by derived class?

class Base
{
    public virtual void Foo() { Console.WriteLine("Base"); }
}
class Derived : Base
{
    public override void Foo() { Console.WriteLine("Derived"); }
}
public static void Main()
{
    Derived d = new Derived();
    typeof(Base).GetMethod("Foo").Invoke(d, null);
    Console.ReadLine();
}

This code always shows 'Derived'...

c# .net reflection
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1 Answer

2

You can't do that, even with reflection. Polymorphism in C# actually guarantees that Derived.Foo() will always be called, even on an instance of Derived cast back to its base class.

The only way to call Base.Foo() from a Derived instance is to explicitly make it accessible from the Derived class:

class Derived : Base
{
    public override void Foo()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Derived");
    }

    public void BaseFoo()
    {
        base.Foo();
    }
}
answered 2010-12-05T07:03:46.577

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