Visual Basic .NET Reflection Handbook

Reflection is a mechanism provided by .NET that enables developers to make their programs more flexible and dynamic. Reflection makes it possible for applications to be more modular, extensible, and configurable. Building on the basics of object-orientation and the .NET type system, reflection provides mechanisms for dynamically examining, modifying, and even creating objects at run time. .NET also adds the ability for programmers to add attributes to their types, which provide metadata about the type which can be examined and used through reflection at runtime. This book examines all the ways reflection can be used, and identifies practical applications and important programming techniques that rely upon reflection for their functionality. It covers the reflection API, the use of attributes in .NET, and also looks at the mechanisms .NET provides for dynamic generation of code - all techniques that allow developers to build more flexible, dynamic applications.