Simplifying INotifyPropertyChanged Implementation in C#

INotifyPropertyChanged is essential for data binding and property change notifications, but manual implementation can be cumbersome. While a simplified syntax like {get; set; notify;} would be ideal, it's not built into C#. Let's explore ways to streamline the process.

One approach involves a base class with a generic SetField method:

public class Data : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName);

    protected bool SetField(ref T field, T value, string propertyName);

    public string Name
    {
        get { return name; }
        set { SetField(ref name, value, "Name"); }
    }
    // ... other properties
}

This reduces property declaration boilerplate. C# 5's CallerMemberName attribute further simplifies this:

protected bool SetField(ref T field, T value, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null);

public string Name
{
    get { return name; }
    set { SetField(ref name, value); }
}

C# 6 and later offer additional improvements for even more concise code.

Automating Code Generation

For complete automation, consider tools like PropertyChanged.Fody. While requiring an external dependency, it eliminates manual PropertyChanged event raising entirely. This is a powerful option for larger projects. The choice between manual optimization (using a base class) and automated code generation depends on project size and preference for external dependencies.