Get a DataTable Columns DataType

Question

DataTable dt = new DataTable();  
dt.Columns.Add(new DataColumn(gridColumn1, typeof(bool)));

I was expecting the result of the below line to include info about the DataColumns Type (bool):

?dt.Columns[0].GetType()

Squiggle

Answer 1

What you want to use is this property:

dt.Columns[0].DataType

The DataType property will set to one of the following:

Boolean
Byte
Char
DateTime
Decimal
Double
Int16
Int32
Int64
SByte
Single
String
TimeSpan
UInt16
UInt32
UInt64

DataColumn.DataType Property MSDN Reference

Medicine

And any other type name, eg System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary – Multistage

Answer 2

You could always use typeof in the if statement. It is better than working with string values like the answer of Natarajan.

using System.Data;

if (dt.Columns[0].DataType == typeof(DateTime))
{
    //...
}

or using column name :

if (dt.Columns["yourColumnName"].DataType == typeof(DateTime))
{
    //...
}

Zusman

Answer 3

dt.Columns[0].DataType.Name.ToString()

Twain

Please add more details about your answer e.g. explain why your code works etc. – Cas

Answer 4

You can get column type of DataTable with DataType attribute of datatable column like below:

var type = dt.Columns[0].DataType

dt: DataTable object.

0: DataTable column index.

Bustos

Answer 5

if (dr[dc.ColumnName].GetType().ToString() == "System.DateTime")

Kosel

Getting the type, then converting to a string to compare to seems a little redundant. – Whydah