c# - Is it possible to define an extension method on a generic type and return another generic type without defining two generic types in <> -

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• generic methods in .net cannot have return types inferred. why? 5 answers

is possible this:

public static t convertto<t>(this tinput input) { 

and use:

item.converttype<newobject>() 

or have this:

public static tresult converttype<tinput, tresult>(this tinput input) { 

and use:

item.converttype<originalobject, newobject>() 

it seems redundant have specify type extension method called on, missing something?

no, basically. there few tricks can do, if important enough.

you can like:

var dest = item.convert().to<something>(); 

via like:

static conversionstub<tinput> convert<tinput>(this tinput input) {     return new conversionstub<tinput>(input); } 

where:

struct conversionstub<t> {     private readonly t input;     public conversionstub(t input) { this.input = input; }     public tresult to<tresult>() {         /* code here */     } } 

you can things dynamic hooking operator path, cause boxing value-types; if convert method returned dynamic, dynamic in question own provider, work.

but basically:

class conversionstub<t> : dynamicobject {     private readonly t input;     public conversionstub(t input){         this.input = input;     }     public override bool tryconvert(convertbinder binder, out object result)     {         if(/* can it*/ )         {             result = // code here             return true;         }         result = null;         return false;     } } 

with:

static dynamic convert<tinput>(this tinput input) {     return new conversionstub<tinput>(input); } 

then:

sometype dest = item.convert(); 

should job.