c# - Get the name of a field from a class without an instance -

so use following utility name of field/property instance of class...

public static string fieldname<t>(expression<func<t>> source) {     return ((memberexpression)source.body).member.name; } 

this allows me following:

public class coolcat {     public string karatepower; }  public class program {     public static main()     {         public coolcat jimmy = new coolcat();          string jimmyskaratepowerfield = fieldname(() => jimmy.karatepower);     } } 

this great serialization , other times when need string representation of field name.

but now, want able field name without having instance of class - instance, if setting table , want dynamically link fieldnames of columns actual fields in class (so refactorings, etc. not break it).

basically, feel don't quite syntax of how accomplish this, imagine this:

public static string classfieldname<t>(func<t> propertyfunction) {      // field name?  i'm not sure whether 'func' right thing here - imagine pass in lambda type expression or of sort? }  public class program {     public static main()     {         string catspowerfieldname = classfieldname<coolcat>((x) => x.karatepower);          // 'catspowerfieldname' set "karatepower".     } } 

i hope makes sense - i'm not vocab around subject know question little vague.

i have 2 methods use this.

the first extension method can used on object.

public static string getpropertyname<tentity, tproperty>(this tentity entity, expression<func<tentity, tproperty>> propertyexpression) {     return propertyexpression.propertyname(); } 

which used like

public coolcat jimmy = new coolcat(); string jimmyskaratepowerfield = jimmy.getpropertyname(j => j.karatepower); 

the second use when don't have object.

public static string propertyname<t>(this expression<func<t, object>> propertyexpression) {         memberexpression mbody = propertyexpression.body memberexpression;          if (mbody == null)         {             //this handle nullable<t> properties.             unaryexpression ubody = propertyexpression.body unaryexpression;              if (ubody != null)             {                 mbody = ubody.operand memberexpression;             }              if (mbody == null)             {                 throw new argumentexception("expression not memberexpression", "propertyexpression");             }         }          return mbody.member.name; } 

this can used so

string karatepowerfield = extensions.propertyname<coolcat>(j => j.karatepower);