get variable name in debugger visualizer

Question

Is there a way to get the underlying variable name of a target object in a Visual Studio debugger visualizer? The built-in string visualizer does it:

string myStr = "abc\ndef";
Debugger.Break();

Clicking on the visualizer icon for myStr, you will see the "Expression" text box shows "myStr". How can I get this in my own visualizers?

+1, I hope someone can help, but I fear that without access to the internal DebugeeHost class it's not going to happen. — ewbi
– ewbi, Commented May 20, 2009 at 22:12
Does this answer your question? Visualized expression in custom data visualizer — user20416
– user20416, Commented Apr 14, 2021 at 9:39

JaredPar · Accepted Answer · 2009-05-21 16:49:48Z

10

It's not possible to do. The only information provided to the visualizer is the value.

The string visualizer has the name because it is in fact not a true visualizer. That is, it's a debugger feature which has a greater level of access to the underlying metadata and more importantly the expression evaluators.

answered May 21, 2009 at 16:49

JaredPar

760k152 gold badges1.3k silver badges1.5k bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

get variable name in debugger visualizer

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related