c# - How to convert a string into a type?

Question

Hi so I'm trying to convert a string named compToAdd into a type and im not sure how to do it, I tried googling for almost 5 hours now and here I am.

The goal would be to make slot.AddComponent<compToAddType>(); run properly

Here is a snippet of the code:

    public string foundationComp;
    public string turretComp;

    public void buildFoundation()
    {
        Build(foundationComp);
    }

    public void buildTurret()
    {
        Build(turretComp);
    }

    public void Build(string compToAdd)
    {      
        Type compToAddType = Type.GetType(compToAdd); //I thought this line would convert the string into a type
        slot.AddComponent<compToAddType>(); // but then I get an error here saying that compToAddType is a variable thats being used like a type..so how am I supposed to convert it?
//just note that 'slot' here have no problem and is a gameobject the problem is on the word 'compToAddType'
    }

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

In general see Type.AssemblyQualifiedName.

If you don't have that you will need to at least have a reference to the Assembly in question and then use Assembly.GetType.

You can also get the assembly if you know at least one type from the according assembly via Assembly.GetAssembly(theKnownType)

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That said, you can not use the generic version GameObject.AddComponent<T>() since the type-parameter of generics need to be compile-time constant!

You can however simply use the non-generic version of GameObject.AddComponent(Type)

public void Build(string compToAdd)
{      
    Type compToAddType = Type.GetType(compToAdd); 
    slot.AddComponent(compToAddType); 
}

(Actually there even was an overload directly taking a string as parameter but it was deprecated.)

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Finally I personally would avoid it completely if possible! Instead of relying on your strings being correct, why not rather use e.g.

public void buildFoundation()
{
    slot.AddComponent<FoundationComponnet>();
}

public void buildTurret()
{
    slot.AddComponent<TurretComponent>();
}