Why Can't I Create Generic Attributes in C#?

Why C# Restricts Generic Attributes: A Deep Dive

C# developers often encounter the limitation of not being able to create generic attributes. This article explores the reasoning behind this design choice.

The attempt to define a generic attribute results in a compiler error, a restriction inherent to the C# language, not the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI).

While definitive documentation explaining this constraint is scarce, research suggests the decision was primarily to avoid unnecessary complexity in both the C# language and its compiler. The perceived limited practical use cases for generic attributes further supported this decision. The added value wouldn't justify the increased complexity.

Former C# language designer Eric Lippert's insights confirm this: the restriction is largely a matter of minimizing complexity, not a fundamental limitation of the underlying infrastructure.

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