How Can I Retrieve a Class Reference in C# Using Reflection?

Using Reflection to Access C# Classes by Name

C# reflection provides the mechanism to access classes using their string names. This is crucial for dynamically interacting with classes without needing direct references. The core of this process lies in obtaining a class reference to subsequently call its methods.

The Type.GetType() method is the key. It takes a string (the class name) and returns a Type object representing that class. For example, to get a reference to a class named "FooClass":

<code class="language-csharp">Type t = Type.GetType("FooClass");</code>

With the Type object, you can then invoke static methods using GetMethod() and Invoke(). Illustrative example:

<code class="language-csharp">MethodInfo method = t.GetMethod("MyMethod", BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.Public);
method.Invoke(null, null);</code>

BindingFlags.Static indicates the method is static; BindingFlags.Public specifies it's publicly accessible.

This approach works under the assumption that the class resides within the current assembly. More intricate scenarios, such as accessing classes from external assemblies or different sources, require a more sophisticated approach, as detailed in alternative solutions.

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