How Can I Get a Variable's Name in C# Using Reflection and What are the Alternatives?

Obtaining Variable Names through Reflection

Determining the name of a variable after compilation using reflection alone is not feasible. Variables lose their names during compilation to Intermediate Language (IL).

However, using expression trees and lambda expressions, it is possible to promote a variable to a closure, thus creating an anonymous function that references the variable.

Code Implementation:

static string GetVariableName<T>(Expression<Func<T>> expr)
{
    var body = (MemberExpression)expr.Body;

    return body.Member.Name;
}

Usage:

static void Main()
{
    var someVar = 3;

    Console.Write(GetVariableName(() => someVar));
}

Performance Considerations:

Using this method can be slow due to the creation of multiple objects, GC pressure, and the overhead of reflection.

Alternative with C# 6.0 and later:

In C# 6.0, the nameof keyword allows a more straightforward approach:

static void Main()
{
    var someVar = 3;

    Console.Write(nameof(someVar));
}

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