C# Academy · Lesson

Extending Interfaces and Generics

Add behavior across many types at once.

Extending Interfaces and Generics is a free C# Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C# Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Extending Interfaces

You can write an extension method whose this parameter is an interface. Every type that implements the interface instantly gains the method. This is exactly how LINQ adds dozens of methods to IEnumerable<T>.

A Generic Extension on IEnumerable

By making the method generic over T and extending IEnumerable<T>, the helper works for any sequence: lists, arrays, query results, and more.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static bool IsEmpty<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source)
    {
        foreach (var item in source) return false;
        return true;
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var nums = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3 };
        Console.WriteLine(nums.IsEmpty());
        Console.WriteLine(new int[0].IsEmpty());
    }
}

Iterating the Sequence

Inside the extension you treat the parameter like any IEnumerable<T>. Here we compute a sum without relying on LINQ.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static int SumValues(this IEnumerable<int> source)
    {
        int total = 0;
        foreach (var n in source) total += n;
        return total;
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var nums = new List<int> { 10, 20, 30 };
        Console.WriteLine(nums.SumValues());
    }
}

Returning a New Sequence

Extensions can return sequences too. Combined with yield return they become lazy LINQ-style operators.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static IEnumerable<T> EveryOther<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source)
    {
        bool take = true;
        foreach (var item in source)
        {
            if (take) yield return item;
            take = !take;
        }
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var letters = new List<string> { "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" };
        foreach (var l in letters.EveryOther())
            Console.WriteLine(l);
    }
}

Generic Type Constraints

You can constrain the generic parameter to require capabilities. Here where T : IComparable<T> lets us compare items to find a maximum.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static T MaxItem<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source) where T : IComparable<T>
    {
        bool started = false;
        T best = default;
        foreach (var item in source)
        {
            if (!started || item.CompareTo(best) > 0) { best = item; started = true; }
        }
        return best;
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var nums = new List<int> { 3, 9, 1, 7 };
        Console.WriteLine(nums.MaxItem());
    }
}

Extending a Custom Interface

Your own interfaces benefit too. Define an interface, then attach shared behavior via extensions instead of duplicating it in every implementer.

using System;

public interface INamed { string Name { get; } }

public class Dog : INamed { public string Name => "Rex"; }

public static class NamedExtensions
{
    public static string Greeting(this INamed n) => "Hello, " + n.Name;
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var d = new Dog();
        Console.WriteLine(d.Greeting());
    }
}

Multiple Type Parameters

Extensions can be generic over several type parameters. This projection helper maps a sequence using a function, much like LINQ Select.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static IEnumerable<TResult> Map<TSource, TResult>(
        this IEnumerable<TSource> source, Func<TSource, TResult> f)
    {
        foreach (var item in source) yield return f(item);
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var nums = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3 };
        foreach (var s in nums.Map(n => "#" + n))
            Console.WriteLine(s);
    }
}

Combining With Built-in LINQ

Your extension methods coexist with LINQ. You can chain your custom operator together with standard ones in a single fluent pipeline.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static IEnumerable<T> EveryOther<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source)
    {
        bool take = true;
        foreach (var item in source) { if (take) yield return item; take = !take; }
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var nums = Enumerable.Range(1, 10);
        var result = nums.Where(n => n > 2).EveryOther().ToList();
        Console.WriteLine(string.Join(", ", result));
    }
}

Extending IEnumerable Reaches Many Types

Because arrays, lists, dictionaries, hash sets, and query results all implement IEnumerable<T>, one extension covers them all at once.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static int CountItems<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source)
    {
        int n = 0;
        foreach (var item in source) n++;
        return n;
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine(new[] { 1, 2, 3 }.CountItems());
        Console.WriteLine(new HashSet<string> { "a", "b" }.CountItems());
    }
}

Why This Pattern Scales

Interface extensions give you polymorphic helpers without inheritance. Write the logic once against the interface and every implementer, present and future, gets it for free.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static string JoinWith<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source, string sep)
    {
        return string.Join(sep, source);
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var nums = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3 };
        Console.WriteLine(nums.JoinWith(" -> "));
    }
}

Try It Yourself

Build a tiny generic operator on IEnumerable<T> and chain it with LINQ. Notice how it works on any sequence type.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;

public static class EnumerableExtensions
{
    public static IEnumerable<T> WithoutDuplicatesByKey<T, TKey>(
        this IEnumerable<T> source, Func<T, TKey> keySelector)
    {
        var seen = new HashSet<TKey>();
        foreach (var item in source)
            if (seen.Add(keySelector(item))) yield return item;
    }
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var words = new[] { "apple", "avocado", "banana", "cherry", "blueberry" };
        var firstPerLetter = words.WithoutDuplicatesByKey(w => w[0]);
        Console.WriteLine(string.Join(", ", firstPerLetter));
    }
}

Quick Check

Think about how LINQ-style extensions are declared.

Recap

Extending interfaces, especially IEnumerable<T>, is the foundation of LINQ-style programming.

Make the method generic and use the interface as the this type.
Use yield return to build lazy operators.
Apply where constraints to require capabilities like IComparable<T>.
One interface extension covers all implementers, including future ones.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Extending Interfaces and Generics” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Extending Interfaces and Generics” is free to read here on the web, and the C# Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C# Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Extending Interfaces and Generics”?

Add behavior across many types at once. You practise C# Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C# Academy?

No prior experience is required. C# Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Extending Interfaces and Generics” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this C# Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C# Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

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