Can Generic String Validation Be Achieved Using TryParse?

Generic String Conversion with TryParse

In an attempt to create a generic extension that utilizes 'TryParse' to validate strings against specific types, the following code was encountered:

public static bool Is<T>(this string input)
{
    T notUsed;
    return T.TryParse(input, out notUsed);
}

This code fails to compile due to the inability to resolve the 'TryParse' symbol. 'TryParse' is not part of any interface, posing the question of whether this functionality is achievable.

Alternative Solution using TypeDescriptor

One approach is to employ the TypeDescriptor class:

public static bool Is(this string input, Type targetType)
{
    try
    {
        TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(targetType).ConvertFromString(input);
        return true;
    }
    catch
    {
        return false;
    }
}

This method passes the target type explicitly, avoiding the use of generics and allowing for runtime type conversion. TypeDescriptor provides functionality for converting strings to various types, enabling you to validate strings against desired types.

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