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Boxing a value type in .NET to make it a reference type

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30 Sep 2011CPOL 14.4K   2   4
How to wrap a value type so it can be used in positions where a reference type is required
Sometimes, you want to pass or store data which is in a value type in a context where only a reference type makes sense. This is either because you want to be able to modify the value from another location (as in this question[^]), or because you want to pass it as a type parameter to a generic class or method which has a where T: class (or where T: new()) restriction.

You can write a boxing class which can be used in such scenarios:
public class Box<T> where T:struct {
 public T Value { get; set; }

 public Box() : this(default(T)) {} // so it can be created from new()
 public Box(T value) { this.Value = value; }
 
 public static implicit operator T(Box<T> box) { return box.Value; }
 public static implicit operator Box<T>(T value) { return new Box<T>(value); }
}


Usage: If you want to use it as a 'pointer', you need to store the reference and pass it explicitly:
Box<int> refint = 5;
ModifyingClass instance = new ModifyingClass(refint);
instance.Adjust();
Debug.Assert(6 == refint);

// where
class ModifyingClass {
 Box<int> target;
 public ModifyingClass(Box<int> i) { target = i; }
 public void Adjust() { target.Value++; }
}


To pass it as a prototype to a generic class, simply do
SomeRestrictedGeneric<Box<T>> variable = new SomeRestrictedGeneric<Box<T>>()

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
United Kingdom United Kingdom
I'm a recent graduate (MSci) from the University of Cambridge, no longer studying Geology. Programming is a hobby so I get to write all the cool things and not all the boring things Smile | :) . However I now have a job in which I have to do a bit of work with a computer too.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralWhat is the advantage of your solution in opposite to just m... Pin
Klaus Luedenscheidt30-Sep-11 18:28
Klaus Luedenscheidt30-Sep-11 18:28 
GeneralRe: You can't save a reference passed as a ref parameter for lat... Pin
BobJanova1-Oct-11 0:39
BobJanova1-Oct-11 0:39 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Excellent explanation from the stand... Pin
Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov29-Sep-11 19:22
mvaSergey Alexandrovich Kryukov29-Sep-11 19:22 
Reason for my vote of 5
Excellent explanation from the standpoint of better understanding of technology.
The only problem it's an answer to some C legacy question and hardly make a lot of sense. Why such kind of reference type would be required in first place? It can be created in imagination of former C user... Smile | :)
GeneralRe: Some poorly written generic containers have a class or new()... Pin
BobJanova30-Sep-11 2:34
BobJanova30-Sep-11 2:34 

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