All are different.
typeof
takes a type name (which you specify at compile time).GetType
gets the runtime type of an instance.is
returns true if an instance is in the inheritance tree.
Example
class Animal { } class Dog : Animal { } void PrintTypes(Animal a) { Console.WriteLine(a.GetType() == typeof(Animal)); // false Console.WriteLine(a is Animal); // true Console.WriteLine(a.GetType() == typeof(Dog)); // true Console.WriteLine(a is Dog); // true } Dog spot = new Dog(); PrintTypes(spot);
What about
typeof(T)
? Is it also resolved at compile time?
Yes. T is always what the type of the expression is. Remember, a generic method is basically a whole bunch of methods with the appropriate type. Example:
string Foo<T>(T parameter) { return typeof(T).Name; } Animal probably_a_dog = new Dog(); Dog definitely_a_dog = new Dog(); Foo(probably_a_dog); // this calls Foo<Animal> and returns "Animal" Foo<Animal>(probably_a_dog); // this is exactly the same as above Foo<Dog>(probably_a_dog); // !!! This will not compile. The parameter expects a Dog, you cannot pass in an Animal. Foo(definitely_a_dog); // this calls Foo<Dog> and returns "Dog" Foo<Dog>(definitely_a_dog); // this is exactly the same as above. Foo<Animal>(definitely_a_dog); // this calls Foo<Animal> and returns "Animal". Foo((Animal)definitely_a_dog); // this does the same as above, ret