Get access to static member from array/list of objects

Question

Situation:

ClassA
{
     static string c;
}

 ClassB
 {
     public List<ClassA> Collection;
}

....

ClassB b;

How can I get access to a static member of ClassA having object b of ClassB? Here it is string c.

Static members don't belong to an instance but to the class. Read: "Members of a class are either static members or instance members. Generally speaking, it is useful to think of static members as belonging to classes and instance members as belonging to objects (instances of classes)." — Tim Schmelter
– Tim Schmelter, Commented Nov 12, 2014 at 12:30

Patrick Hofman · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-12 12:37:51Z

1

You can't get static members from a class instance (so you can't do b.Collection[0].c).

You do have the ability to use reflection to get the type member, but that wouldn't be the best option in my opinion.

I think you'd better create a non-static accessor for the static member:

public string C
{
    get
    {
        return c;
    }
}

edited Nov 12, 2014 at 12:37

answered Nov 12, 2014 at 12:30

Patrick Hofman

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6 Comments

Tim Schmelter Over a year ago

Why would you want to do that at all? The static member does not belong to the instance, c is the same for all instances of ClassA in Collection.

Patrick Hofman Over a year ago

Well, some times you have something that is static, since you want to share it across instances, but you also want to access it from an instance that is passed around.

Tim Schmelter Over a year ago

But you can access it via class, you don't need the instance (and you can't use it from an instance anyway).

Patrick Hofman Over a year ago

@TimSchmelter: Sorry, I think I understand you better now. c belongs to ClassA instead of ClassB, you are right.

Rahul Over a year ago

Yes correct but that's not the suggested way to access a static member. Why would someone at all want to access a static member from a instance variable???

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