c# - Method with generic return type but not generic input. Is this possible? -

suppose have nodedata class:

public class nodedata<t> {     public string name;     public t value;     public nodedata(string name, t value)     {         this.name = name;         this.value = value;     } } 

and base node class , child classes have several properties type nodadata:

public class node {     public list<nodedata<t>> listoutputs<t>()     {         var fieldinfos = gettype().getfields();         var list = new list<nodedata<t>>();         foreach (var item in fieldinfos)         {             type t = item.fieldtype;             string name = item.name;             if (t == typeof(nodedata<t>))             {                 var output = new nodedata<t>(name, default(t));                 list.add(output);             }         }         return list;     } }  public class testnode : node {     public nodedata<int> data;     public nodedata<double> data2;     public nodedata<double> data3;     public testnode ()     {         data = new nodedata<int>("test", 111);         data2 = new nodedata<double>("test", 113);     } } 

as can see there method lists outputs type t in node class can find output fields of child class in runtime:

testnode node = new testnode (); var list = node.listoutputs<int>(); // returns data 

but need know how use method list nodeoutputs of type t. in example int , double. need add method signature public list<nodedata<t>> listoutputs() // should return properties data, data2, data3. possible have method this? return type generic there no type argument method.

even after edit(s) not entirely clear trying achieve here assumptions: -you want have kind of node object acts container different types of nodedata elements. -you want able return 1 list node object contains nodedata elements stored in node container, regardless of nodedata objects' type.

instead of returning list> object listoutputs methods, return non-generic version of list object. don't have deal t in method call.

the logic loops through objects in non-generic list can examine type process contained nodedata objects correctly.

important note: proposed solution no means pretty think answers question. in opinion flawed oo point of view in presented code (e.g. use of reflection) , better solution have start changing underlying data structures. can done if have more information how used, e.g. kind of logic consumes returned list.