#472 – Attributes Can Be Attached to a Variety of Elements

Custom attributes can be attached not only to class methods, but to a number of different types of elements.

You can attach an attribute to any of the following elements:

• An assembly
• A class
• A constructor
• A delegate
• An enumerated type
• An event
• A field
• A generic parameter
• An interface
• A method
• A module (.dll or .exe)
• A parameter
• A property
• A return value
• A struct

Below is an example of attaching custom attributes to parameters.

    public sealed class PopCultureAttribute : Attribute
    {
        public string Trivia;
        public object SuggestedValue;

        public PopCultureAttribute(string trivia, object suggestedValue)
        {
            Trivia = trivia;
            SuggestedValue = suggestedValue;
        }
    }

 

        public void FeedCowInBarn(
            [PopCulture("Cows stomachs can bloat when feeding them rich grains", "Silage")] string feedType,
            [PopCulture("Cows spend 6 hrs/day eating", 60)] int numMinutes)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Cow eats slop in dim confines of barn.  {0}, {1}", feedType, numMinutes);
        }