[c#] Implementing INotifyPropertyChanged - does a better way exist?

Microsoft should have implemented something snappy for INotifyPropertyChanged, like in the automatic properties, just specify {get; set; notify;} I think it makes a lot of sense to do it. Or are there any complications to do it?

Can we ourselves implement something like 'notify' in our properties. Is there a graceful solution for implementing INotifyPropertyChanged in your class or the only way to do it is by raising the PropertyChanged event in each property.

If not can we write something to auto-generate the piece of code to raise PropertyChanged event?

Prism 5 implementation:

public abstract class BindableBase : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    protected virtual bool SetProperty<T>(ref T storage,
                                          T value,
                                          [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
    {
        if (object.Equals(storage, value)) return false;

        storage = value;
        this.OnPropertyChanged(propertyName);

        return true;
    }

    protected void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
    {
        var eventHandler = this.PropertyChanged;
        if (eventHandler != null)
        {
            eventHandler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }
    }

    protected void OnPropertyChanged<T>(Expression<Func<T>> propertyExpression)
    {
        var propertyName = PropertySupport.ExtractPropertyName(propertyExpression);
        this.OnPropertyChanged(propertyName);
    }
}

public static class PropertySupport
{
    public static string ExtractPropertyName<T>(Expression<Func<T>> propertyExpression)
    {
        if (propertyExpression == null)
        {
            throw new ArgumentNullException("propertyExpression");
        }

        var memberExpression = propertyExpression.Body as MemberExpression;
        if (memberExpression == null)
        {
            throw new ArgumentException("The expression is not a member access expression.", "propertyExpression");
        }

        var property = memberExpression.Member as PropertyInfo;
        if (property == null)
        {
            throw new ArgumentException("The member access expression does not access a property.", "propertyExpression");
        }

        var getMethod = property.GetMethod;
        if (getMethod.IsStatic)
        {
            throw new ArgumentException("The referenced property is a static property.", "propertyExpression");
        }

        return memberExpression.Member.Name;
    }
}

I have written an article that helps with this (https://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/mt736453). You can use the SolSoft.DataBinding NuGet package. Then you can write code like this:

public class TestViewModel : IRaisePropertyChanged
{
  public TestViewModel()
  {
    this.m_nameProperty = new NotifyProperty<string>(this, nameof(Name), null);
  }

  private readonly NotifyProperty<string> m_nameProperty;
  public string Name
  {
    get
    {
      return m_nameProperty.Value;
    }
    set
    {
      m_nameProperty.SetValue(value);
    }
  }

  // Plus implement IRaisePropertyChanged (or extend BaseViewModel)
}

Benefits:

1. base class is optional
2. no reflection on every 'set value'
3. can have properties that depend on other properties, and they all automatically raise the appropriate events (article has an example of this)

Another combined solution is using StackFrame:

public class BaseViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    protected void Set<T>(ref T field, T value)
    {
        MethodBase method = new StackFrame(1).GetMethod();
        field = value;
        Raise(method.Name.Substring(4));
    }

    protected void Raise(string propertyName)
    {
        var temp = PropertyChanged;
        if (temp != null)
        {
            temp(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }
    }
}

Usage:

public class TempVM : BaseViewModel
{
    private int _intP;
    public int IntP
    {
        get { return _intP; }
        set { Set<int>(ref _intP, value); }
    }
}

A very AOP-like approach is to inject the INotifyPropertyChanged stuff onto an already instantiated object on the fly. You can do this with something like Castle DynamicProxy. Here is an article that explains the technique:

Adding INotifyPropertyChanged to an existing object

Look here : http://dotnet-forum.de/blogs/thearchitect/archive/2012/11/01/die-optimale-implementierung-des-inotifypropertychanged-interfaces.aspx

It's written in German, but you can download the ViewModelBase.cs. All the comments in the cs-File are written in English.

With this ViewModelBase-Class it is possible to implement bindable properties similar to the well known Dependency Properties :

public string SomeProperty
{
    get { return GetValue( () => SomeProperty ); }
    set { SetValue( () => SomeProperty, value ); }
}

As of .Net 4.5 there is finally an easy way to do this.

.Net 4.5 introduces a new Caller Information Attributes.

private void OnPropertyChanged<T>([CallerMemberName]string caller = null) {
     // make sure only to call this if the value actually changes

     var handler = PropertyChanged;
     if (handler != null) {
        handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(caller));
     }
}

It's probably a good idea to add a comparer to the function as well.

EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals

More examples here and here

Also see Caller Information (C# and Visual Basic)

I'm writing a library that deals with INotifyPropertyChanged, and the main idea is using a dynamic proxy to notify changes.

the repo is here: CaulyKan/NoMorePropertyChanged

with this library, you can write:

    public dynamic Test1Binding { get; set; }
    public TestDTO Test1
    {
        get { return (TestDTO)Test1Binding; }
        set { SetBinding(nameof(Test1Binding), value); }
    }

Then make all bindings and modifications go to Test1Binding, which will notify PropertyChange and CollectionChanged automatically no matter how complex TestDTO is.

it can also handle dependencies.

    [DependsOn("Test1Binding.TestString")]
    public string Test2
    {
        get { return Test1Binding.TestString; }
    }

Please give me some suggestions.

Other things you may want to consider when implementing these sorts of properties is the fact that the INotifyPropertyChang *ed *ing both use event argument classes.

If you have a large number of properties that are being set then the number of event argument class instances can be huge, you should consider caching them as they are one of the areas that a string explosion can occur.

Take a look at this implementation and explanation of why it was conceived.

Josh Smiths Blog

Yes, better way certainly exists. Here it is:

Step by step tutorial shrank by me, based on this useful article.

• Create new project
• Install castle core package into the project

Install-Package Castle.Core

• Install mvvm light libraries only

Install-Package MvvmLightLibs

• Add two classes in project:

NotifierInterceptor

public class NotifierInterceptor : IInterceptor
    {
        private PropertyChangedEventHandler handler;
        public static Dictionary<String, PropertyChangedEventArgs> _cache =
          new Dictionary<string, PropertyChangedEventArgs>();

        public void Intercept(IInvocation invocation)
        {
            switch (invocation.Method.Name)
            {
                case "add_PropertyChanged":
                    handler = (PropertyChangedEventHandler)
                              Delegate.Combine(handler, (Delegate)invocation.Arguments[0]);
                    invocation.ReturnValue = handler;
                    break;
                case "remove_PropertyChanged":
                    handler = (PropertyChangedEventHandler)
                              Delegate.Remove(handler, (Delegate)invocation.Arguments[0]);
                    invocation.ReturnValue = handler;
                    break;
                default:
                    if (invocation.Method.Name.StartsWith("set_"))
                    {
                        invocation.Proceed();
                        if (handler != null)
                        {
                            var arg = retrievePropertyChangedArg(invocation.Method.Name);
                            handler(invocation.Proxy, arg);
                        }
                    }
                    else invocation.Proceed();
                    break;
            }
        }

        private static PropertyChangedEventArgs retrievePropertyChangedArg(String methodName)
        {
            PropertyChangedEventArgs arg = null;
            _cache.TryGetValue(methodName, out arg);
            if (arg == null)
            {
                arg = new PropertyChangedEventArgs(methodName.Substring(4));
                _cache.Add(methodName, arg);
            }
            return arg;
        }
    }

ProxyCreator

public class ProxyCreator
{
    public static T MakeINotifyPropertyChanged<T>() where T : class, new()
    {
        var proxyGen = new ProxyGenerator();
        var proxy = proxyGen.CreateClassProxy(
          typeof(T),
          new[] { typeof(INotifyPropertyChanged) },
          ProxyGenerationOptions.Default,
          new NotifierInterceptor()
          );
        return proxy as T;
    }
}

• Create your view model, for example:

-

 public class MainViewModel
    {
        public virtual string MainTextBox { get; set; }

        public RelayCommand TestActionCommand
        {
            get { return new RelayCommand(TestAction); }
        }

        public void TestAction()
        {
            Trace.WriteLine(MainTextBox);
        }
    }

• Put bindings into xaml:

  <TextBox Text="{Binding MainTextBox}" ></TextBox>
  <Button Command="{Binding TestActionCommand}" >Test</Button>
  

• Put line of code in code-behind file MainWindow.xaml.cs like this:

DataContext = ProxyCreator.MakeINotifyPropertyChanged<MainViewModel>();

• Enjoy.

Attention!!! All bounded properties should be decorated with keyword virtual because they used by castle proxy for overriding.

I came up with this base class to implement the observable pattern, pretty much does what you need ("automatically" implementing the set and get). I spent line an hour on this as prototype, so it doesn't have many unit tests, but proves the concept. Note it uses the Dictionary<string, ObservablePropertyContext> to remove the need for private fields.

  public class ObservableByTracking<T> : IObservable<T>
  {
    private readonly Dictionary<string, ObservablePropertyContext> _expando;
    private bool _isDirty;

    public ObservableByTracking()
    {
      _expando = new Dictionary<string, ObservablePropertyContext>();

      var properties = this.GetType().GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance).ToList();
      foreach (var property in properties)
      {
        var valueContext = new ObservablePropertyContext(property.Name, property.PropertyType)
        {
          Value = GetDefault(property.PropertyType)
        };

        _expando[BuildKey(valueContext)] = valueContext;
      }
    }

    protected void SetValue<T>(Expression<Func<T>> expression, T value)
    {
      var keyContext = GetKeyContext(expression);
      var key = BuildKey(keyContext.PropertyName, keyContext.PropertyType);

      if (!_expando.ContainsKey(key))
      {
        throw new Exception($"Object doesn't contain {keyContext.PropertyName} property.");
      }

      var originalValue = (T)_expando[key].Value;
      if (EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(originalValue, value))
      {
        return;
      }

      _expando[key].Value = value;
      _isDirty = true;
    }

    protected T GetValue<T>(Expression<Func<T>> expression)
    {
      var keyContext = GetKeyContext(expression);
      var key = BuildKey(keyContext.PropertyName, keyContext.PropertyType);

      if (!_expando.ContainsKey(key))
      {
        throw new Exception($"Object doesn't contain {keyContext.PropertyName} property.");
      }

      var value = _expando[key].Value;
      return (T)value;
    }

    private KeyContext GetKeyContext<T>(Expression<Func<T>> expression)
    {
      var castedExpression = expression.Body as MemberExpression;
      if (castedExpression == null)
      {
        throw new Exception($"Invalid expression.");
      }

      var parameterName = castedExpression.Member.Name;

      var propertyInfo = castedExpression.Member as PropertyInfo;
      if (propertyInfo == null)
      {
        throw new Exception($"Invalid expression.");
      }

      return new KeyContext {PropertyType = propertyInfo.PropertyType, PropertyName = parameterName};
    }

    private static string BuildKey(ObservablePropertyContext observablePropertyContext)
    {
      return $"{observablePropertyContext.Type.Name}.{observablePropertyContext.Name}";
    }

    private static string BuildKey(string parameterName, Type type)
    {
      return $"{type.Name}.{parameterName}";
    }

    private static object GetDefault(Type type)
    {
      if (type.IsValueType)
      {
        return Activator.CreateInstance(type);
      }
      return null;
    }

    public bool IsDirty()
    {
      return _isDirty;
    }

    public void SetPristine()
    {
      _isDirty = false;
    }

    private class KeyContext
    {
      public string PropertyName { get; set; }
      public Type PropertyType { get; set; }
    }
  }

  public interface IObservable<T>
  {
    bool IsDirty();
    void SetPristine();
  }

Here's the usage

public class ObservableByTrackingTestClass : ObservableByTracking<ObservableByTrackingTestClass>
  {
    public ObservableByTrackingTestClass()
    {
      StringList = new List<string>();
      StringIList = new List<string>();
      NestedCollection = new List<ObservableByTrackingTestClass>();
    }

    public IEnumerable<string> StringList
    {
      get { return GetValue(() => StringList); }
      set { SetValue(() => StringIList, value); }
    }

    public IList<string> StringIList
    {
      get { return GetValue(() => StringIList); }
      set { SetValue(() => StringIList, value); }
    }

    public int IntProperty
    {
      get { return GetValue(() => IntProperty); }
      set { SetValue(() => IntProperty, value); }
    }

    public ObservableByTrackingTestClass NestedChild
    {
      get { return GetValue(() => NestedChild); }
      set { SetValue(() => NestedChild, value); }
    }

    public IList<ObservableByTrackingTestClass> NestedCollection
    {
      get { return GetValue(() => NestedCollection); }
      set { SetValue(() => NestedCollection, value); }
    }

    public string StringProperty
    {
      get { return GetValue(() => StringProperty); }
      set { SetValue(() => StringProperty, value); }
    }
  }

Here is a Unity3D or non-CallerMemberName version of NotifyPropertyChanged

public abstract class Bindable : MonoBehaviour, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    private readonly Dictionary<string, object> _properties = new Dictionary<string, object>();
    private static readonly StackTrace stackTrace = new StackTrace();
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    /// <summary>
    ///     Resolves a Property's name from a Lambda Expression passed in.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="property"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    internal string GetPropertyName<T>(Expression<Func<T>> property)
    {
        var expression = (MemberExpression) property.Body;
        var propertyName = expression.Member.Name;

        Debug.AssertFormat(propertyName != null, "Bindable Property shouldn't be null!");
        return propertyName;
    }

    #region Notification Handlers

    /// <summary>
    ///     Notify's all other objects listening that a value has changed for nominated propertyName
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="propertyName"></param>
    internal void NotifyOfPropertyChange(string propertyName)
    {
        OnPropertyChanged(new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }

    /// <summary>
    ///     Notifies subscribers of the property change.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="TProperty">The type of the property.</typeparam>
    /// <param name="property">The property expression.</param>
    internal void NotifyOfPropertyChange<TProperty>(Expression<Func<TProperty>> property)
    {
        var propertyName = GetPropertyName(property);
        NotifyOfPropertyChange(propertyName);
    }

    /// <summary>
    ///     Raises the <see cref="PropertyChanged" /> event directly.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="e">The <see cref="PropertyChangedEventArgs" /> instance containing the event data.</param>
    internal void OnPropertyChanged(PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        var handler = PropertyChanged;
        if (handler != null)
        {
            handler(this, e);
        }
    }

    #endregion

    #region Getters

    /// <summary>
    ///     Gets the value of a property
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="name"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    internal T Get<T>(Expression<Func<T>> property)
    {
        var propertyName = GetPropertyName(property);
        return Get<T>(GetPropertyName(property));
    }

    /// <summary>
    ///     Gets the value of a property automatically based on its caller.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <returns></returns>
    internal T Get<T>()
    {
        var name = stackTrace.GetFrame(1).GetMethod().Name.Substring(4); // strips the set_ from name;
        return Get<T>(name);
    }

    /// <summary>
    ///     Gets the name of a property based on a string.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="name"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    internal T Get<T>(string name)
    {
        object value = null;
        if (_properties.TryGetValue(name, out value))
            return value == null ? default(T) : (T) value;
        return default(T);
    }

    #endregion

    #region Setters

    /// <summary>
    ///     Sets the value of a property whilst automatically looking up its caller name.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value"></param>
    internal void Set<T>(T value)
    {
        var propertyName = stackTrace.GetFrame(1).GetMethod().Name.Substring(4); // strips the set_ from name;
        Set(value, propertyName);
    }

    /// <summary>
    ///     Sets the value of a property
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value"></param>
    /// <param name="name"></param>
    internal void Set<T>(T value, string propertyName)
    {
        Debug.Assert(propertyName != null, "name != null");
        if (Equals(value, Get<T>(propertyName)))
            return;
        _properties[propertyName] = value;
        NotifyOfPropertyChange(propertyName);
    }

    /// <summary>
    ///     Sets the value of a property based off an Expression (()=>FieldName)
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value"></param>
    /// <param name="property"></param>
    internal void Set<T>(T value, Expression<Func<T>> property)
    {
        var propertyName = GetPropertyName(property);

        Debug.Assert(propertyName != null, "name != null");

        if (Equals(value, Get<T>(propertyName)))
            return;
        _properties[propertyName] = value;
        NotifyOfPropertyChange(propertyName);
    }

    #endregion
}

This code enables you to write property backing fields like this:

  public string Text
    {
        get { return Get<string>(); }
        set { Set(value); }
    }

Furthermore, in resharper if you create a pattern/search snippet you can then also automate you're workflow by converting simple prop fields into the above backing.

Search Pattern:

public $type$ $fname$ { get; set; }

Replace Pattern:

public $type$ $fname$
{
    get { return Get<$type$>(); }
    set { Set(value); }
}

Based on the answer by Thomas which was adapted from an answer by Marc I've turned the reflecting property changed code into a base class:

public abstract class PropertyChangedBase : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    protected void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
    {
        PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
        if (handler != null) 
            handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }

    protected void OnPropertyChanged<T>(Expression<Func<T>> selectorExpression)
    {
        if (selectorExpression == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("selectorExpression");
        var me = selectorExpression.Body as MemberExpression;

        // Nullable properties can be nested inside of a convert function
        if (me == null)
        {
            var ue = selectorExpression.Body as UnaryExpression;
            if (ue != null)
                me = ue.Operand as MemberExpression;
        }

        if (me == null)
            throw new ArgumentException("The body must be a member expression");

        OnPropertyChanged(me.Member.Name);
    }

    protected void SetField<T>(ref T field, T value, Expression<Func<T>> selectorExpression, params Expression<Func<object>>[] additonal)
    {
        if (EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(field, value)) return;
        field = value;
        OnPropertyChanged(selectorExpression);
        foreach (var item in additonal)
            OnPropertyChanged(item);
    }
}

Usage is the same as Thomas' answer except that you can pass additional properties to notify for. This was necessary to handle calculated columns which need to be refreshed in a grid.

private int _quantity;
private int _price;

public int Quantity 
{ 
    get { return _quantity; } 
    set { SetField(ref _quantity, value, () => Quantity, () => Total); } 
}
public int Price 
{ 
    get { return _price; } 
    set { SetField(ref _price, value, () => Price, () => Total); } 
}
public int Total { get { return _price * _quantity; } }

I have this driving a collection of items stored in a BindingList exposed via a DataGridView. It has eliminated the need for me to do manual Refresh() calls to the grid.

I use the following extension method (using C# 6.0) to make the INPC implemenation as easy as possible:

public static bool ChangeProperty<T>(this PropertyChangedEventHandler propertyChanged, ref T field, T value, object sender,
    IEqualityComparer<T> comparer = null, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
    if (comparer == null)
        comparer = EqualityComparer<T>.Default;

    if (comparer.Equals(field, value))
    {
        return false;
    }
    else
    {
        field = value;
        propertyChanged?.Invoke(sender, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        return true;
    }
}

The INPC implementation boils down to (you can either implement this every time or create a base class):

public class INPCBaseClass: INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    protected bool changeProperty<T>(ref T field, T value,
        IEqualityComparer<T> comparer = null, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
    {
        return PropertyChanged.ChangeProperty(ref field, value, this, comparer, propertyName);
    }
}

Then write your properties like this:

private string testProperty;
public string TestProperty
{
    get { return testProperty; }
    set { changeProperty(ref testProperty, value); }
}

NOTE: You can omit the [CallerMemberName] declaration in the extension method, if you want, but I wanted to keep it flexible.

If you have properties without a backing field you can overload changeProperty:

protected bool changeProperty<T>(T property, Action<T> set, T value,
    IEqualityComparer<T> comparer = null, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
    bool ret = changeProperty(ref property, value, comparer, propertyName);
    if (ret)
        set(property);
    return ret;
}

An example use would be:

public string MyTestProperty
{
    get { return base.TestProperty; }
    set { changeProperty(base.TestProperty, (x) => { base.TestProperty = x; }, value); }
}

I introduce a Bindable class in my blog at http://timoch.com/blog/2013/08/annoyed-with-inotifypropertychange/ Bindable uses a dictionary as a property bag. It's easy enough to add the necessary overloads for a subclass to manage its own backing field using ref parameters.

• No magic string
• No reflection
• Can be improved to suppress the default dictionary lookup

The code:

public class Bindable : INotifyPropertyChanged {
    private Dictionary<string, object> _properties = new Dictionary<string, object>();

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets the value of a property
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="name"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    protected T Get<T>([CallerMemberName] string name = null) {
        Debug.Assert(name != null, "name != null");
        object value = null;
        if (_properties.TryGetValue(name, out value))
            return value == null ? default(T) : (T)value;
        return default(T);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Sets the value of a property
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value"></param>
    /// <param name="name"></param>
    /// <remarks>Use this overload when implicitly naming the property</remarks>
    protected void Set<T>(T value, [CallerMemberName] string name = null) {
        Debug.Assert(name != null, "name != null");
        if (Equals(value, Get<T>(name)))
            return;
        _properties[name] = value;
        OnPropertyChanged(name);
    }

    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null) {
        PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
        if (handler != null) {
            handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }
    }
}

It can be used like this:

public class Contact : Bindable {
    public string FirstName {
        get { return Get<string>(); }
        set { Set(value); }
    }
}

I keep this around as a snippet. C# 6 adds some nice syntax for invoking the handler.

// INotifyPropertyChanged

public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

private void Set<T>(ref T property, T value, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
    if (EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(property, value) == false)
    {
        property = value;
        PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }
}

I haven't actually had a chance to try this myself yet, but next time I'm setting up a project with a big requirement for INotifyPropertyChanged I'm intending on writing a Postsharp attribute that will inject the code at compile time. Something like:

[NotifiesChange]
public string FirstName { get; set; }

Will become:

private string _firstName;

public string FirstName
{
   get { return _firstname; }
   set
   {
      if (_firstname != value)
      {
          _firstname = value;
          OnPropertyChanged("FirstName")
      }
   }
}

I'm not sure if this will work in practice and I need to sit down and try it out, but I don't see why not. I may need to make it accept some parameters for situations where more than one OnPropertyChanged needs to be triggered (if, for example, I had a FullName property in the class above)

Currently I'm using a custom template in Resharper, but even with that I'm getting fed up of all my properties being so long.

Ah, a quick Google search (which I should have done before I wrote this) shows that at least one person has done something like this before here. Not exactly what I had in mind, but close enough to show that the theory is good.

If you are using dynamics in .NET 4.5 you don't need to worry about INotifyPropertyChanged.

dynamic obj = new ExpandoObject();
obj.Name = "John";

if Name is bound to some control it just works fine.

An idea using reflection:

class ViewModelBase : INotifyPropertyChanged {

    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    bool Notify<T>(MethodBase mb, ref T oldValue, T newValue) {

        // Get Name of Property
        string name = mb.Name.Substring(4);

        // Detect Change
        bool changed = EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(oldValue, newValue);

        // Return if no change
        if (!changed) return false;

        // Update value
        oldValue = newValue;

        // Raise Event
        if (PropertyChanged != null) {
            PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(name));
        }//if

        // Notify caller of change
        return true;

    }//method

    string name;

    public string Name {
        get { return name; }
        set {
            Notify(MethodInfo.GetCurrentMethod(), ref this.name, value);
        }
    }//method

}//class

All these answer are very nice.

My solution is using the code snippets to do the job.

This uses the simplest call to PropertyChanged event.

Save this snippet and use it as you use 'fullprop' snippet.

the location can be found at 'Tools\Code Snippet Manager...' menu at Visual Studio.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<CodeSnippets  xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
    <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
        <Header>
            <Title>inotifypropfull</Title>
            <Shortcut>inotifypropfull</Shortcut>
            <HelpUrl>http://ofirzeitoun.wordpress.com/</HelpUrl>
            <Description>Code snippet for property and backing field with notification</Description>
            <Author>Ofir Zeitoun</Author>
            <SnippetTypes>
                <SnippetType>Expansion</SnippetType>
            </SnippetTypes>
        </Header>
        <Snippet>
            <Declarations>
                <Literal>
                    <ID>type</ID>
                    <ToolTip>Property type</ToolTip>
                    <Default>int</Default>
                </Literal>
                <Literal>
                    <ID>property</ID>
                    <ToolTip>Property name</ToolTip>
                    <Default>MyProperty</Default>
                </Literal>
                <Literal>
                    <ID>field</ID>
                    <ToolTip>The variable backing this property</ToolTip>
                    <Default>myVar</Default>
                </Literal>
            </Declarations>
            <Code Language="csharp">
                <![CDATA[private $type$ $field$;

    public $type$ $property$
    {
        get { return $field$;}
        set { 
            $field$ = value;
            var temp = PropertyChanged;
            if (temp != null)
            {
                temp(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs("$property$"));
            }
        }
    }
    $end$]]>
            </Code>
        </Snippet>
    </CodeSnippet>
</CodeSnippets>

You can modify the call as you like (to use the above solutions)

Let me introduce my own approach called Yappi. It belongs to Runtime proxy|derived class generators, adding new functionality to an existing object or type, like Caste Project's Dynamic Proxy.

It allows to implement INotifyPropertyChanged once in base class, and then declare derived classes in following style, still supporting INotifyPropertyChanged for new properties:

public class Animal:Concept
{
    protected Animal(){}
    public virtual string Name { get; set; }
    public virtual int Age { get; set; }
}

Complexity of derived class or proxy construction can be hidden behind the following line:

var animal = Concept.Create<Animal>.New();

And all INotifyPropertyChanged implementation work can be done like this:

public class Concept:INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    //Hide constructor
    protected Concept(){}

    public static class Create<TConcept> where TConcept:Concept
    {
        //Construct derived Type calling PropertyProxy.ConstructType
        public static readonly Type Type = PropertyProxy.ConstructType<TConcept, Implementation<TConcept>>(new Type[0], true);
        //Create constructing delegate calling Constructor.Compile
        public static Func<TConcept> New = Constructor.Compile<Func<TConcept>>(Type);
    }


    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    protected void OnPropertyChanged(PropertyChangedEventArgs eventArgs)
    {
        var caller = PropertyChanged;
        if(caller!=null)
        {
            caller(this, eventArgs);
        }
    }

    //define implementation
    public class Implementation<TConcept> : DefaultImplementation<TConcept> where TConcept:Concept
    {
        public override Func<TBaseType, TResult> OverrideGetter<TBaseType, TDeclaringType, TConstructedType, TResult>(PropertyInfo property)
        {
            return PropertyImplementation<TBaseType, TDeclaringType>.GetGetter<TResult>(property.Name);
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Overriding property setter implementation.
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="TBaseType">Base type for implementation. TBaseType must be TConcept, and inherits all its constraints. Also TBaseType is TDeclaringType.</typeparam>
        /// <typeparam name="TDeclaringType">Type, declaring property.</typeparam>
        /// <typeparam name="TConstructedType">Constructed type. TConstructedType is TDeclaringType and TBaseType.</typeparam>
        /// <typeparam name="TResult">Type of property.</typeparam>
        /// <param name="property">PropertyInfo of property.</param>
        /// <returns>Delegate, corresponding to property setter implementation.</returns>
        public override Action<TBaseType, TResult> OverrideSetter<TBaseType, TDeclaringType, TConstructedType, TResult>(PropertyInfo property)
        {
            //This code called once for each declared property on derived type's initialization.
            //EventArgs instance is shared between all events for each concrete property.
            var eventArgs = new PropertyChangedEventArgs(property.Name);
            //get delegates for base calls.
            Action<TBaseType, TResult> setter = PropertyImplementation<TBaseType, TDeclaringType>.GetSetter<TResult>(property.Name);
            Func<TBaseType, TResult> getter = PropertyImplementation<TBaseType, TDeclaringType>.GetGetter<TResult>(property.Name);

            var comparer = EqualityComparer<TResult>.Default;

            return (pthis, value) =>
            {//This code executes each time property setter is called.
                if (comparer.Equals(value, getter(pthis))) return;
                //base. call
                setter(pthis, value);
                //Directly accessing Concept's protected method.
                pthis.OnPropertyChanged(eventArgs);
            };
        }
    }
}

It is fully safe for refactoring, uses no reflection after type construction and fast enough.

I resolved in This Way (it's a little bit laboriouse, but it's surely the faster in runtime).

In VB (sorry, but I think it's not hard translate it in C#), I make this substitution with RE:

(?<Attr><(.*ComponentModel\.)Bindable\(True\)>)( |\r\n)*(?<Def>(Public|Private|Friend|Protected) .*Property )(?<Name>[^ ]*) As (?<Type>.*?)[ |\r\n](?![ |\r\n]*Get)

with:

Private _${Name} As ${Type}\r\n${Attr}\r\n${Def}${Name} As ${Type}\r\nGet\r\nReturn _${Name}\r\nEnd Get\r\nSet (Value As ${Type})\r\nIf _${Name} <> Value Then \r\n_${Name} = Value\r\nRaiseEvent PropertyChanged(Me, New ComponentModel.PropertyChangedEventArgs("${Name}"))\r\nEnd If\r\nEnd Set\r\nEnd Property\r\n

This transofrm all code like this:

<Bindable(True)>
Protected Friend Property StartDate As DateTime?

In

Private _StartDate As DateTime?
<Bindable(True)>
Protected Friend Property StartDate As DateTime?
    Get
        Return _StartDate
    End Get
    Set(Value As DateTime?)
        If _StartDate <> Value Then
            _StartDate = Value
            RaiseEvent PropertyChange(Me, New ComponentModel.PropertyChangedEventArgs("StartDate"))
        End If
    End Set
End Property

And If I want to have a more readable code, I can be the opposite just making the following substitution:

Private _(?<Name>.*) As (?<Type>.*)[\r\n ]*(?<Attr><(.*ComponentModel\.)Bindable\(True\)>)[\r\n ]*(?<Def>(Public|Private|Friend|Protected) .*Property )\k<Name> As \k<Type>[\r\n ]*Get[\r\n ]*Return _\k<Name>[\r\n ]*End Get[\r\n ]*Set\(Value As \k<Type>\)[\r\n ]*If _\k<Name> <> Value Then[\r\n ]*_\k<Name> = Value[\r\n ]*RaiseEvent PropertyChanged\(Me, New (.*ComponentModel\.)PropertyChangedEventArgs\("\k<Name>"\)\)[\r\n ]*End If[\r\n ]*End Set[\r\n ]*End Property

With

${Attr} ${Def} ${Name} As ${Type}

I throw to replace the IL code of the set method, but I can't write a lot of compiled code in IL... If a day I write it, I'll say you!

Another Idea...

 public class ViewModelBase : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    private Dictionary<string, object> _propertyStore = new Dictionary<string, object>();
    protected virtual void SetValue<T>(T value, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName="") {
        _propertyStore[propertyName] = value;
        OnPropertyChanged(propertyName);
    }
    protected virtual T GetValue<T>([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = "")
    {
        object ret;
        if (_propertyStore.TryGetValue(propertyName, out ret))
        {
            return (T)ret;
        }
        else
        {
            return default(T);
        }
    }

    //Usage
    //public string SomeProperty {
    //    get { return GetValue<string>();  }
    //    set { SetValue(value); }
    //}

    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
    protected void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
    {
        var temp = PropertyChanged;
        if (temp != null)
            temp.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }
}

Whilst there are obviously lots of ways to do this, with the exception of the AOP magic answers, none of the answers seem to look at setting a Model's property directly from the view model without having a local field to reference.

The issue is you can't reference a property. However, you can use an Action to set that property.

protected bool TrySetProperty<T>(Action<T> property, T newValue, T oldValue, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
    if (EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(oldValue, newValue))
    {
        return false;
    }

    property(newValue);
    RaisePropertyChanged(propertyName);
    return true;
}

This can be used like the following code extract.

public int Prop {
    get => model.Prop;
    set => TrySetProperty(x => model.Prop = x, value, model.Prop);
}

Check out this BitBucket repo for a full implementation of the method and a few different ways of achieving the same result, including a method that uses LINQ and a method that uses reflection. Do note that these methods are slower performance wise.

I suggest to use ReactiveProperty. This is the shortest method except Fody.

public class Data : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    // boiler-plate
    ...
    // props
    private string name;
    public string Name
    {
        get { return name; }
        set { SetField(ref name, value, "Name"); }
    }
}

instead

public class Data
{
    // Don't need boiler-plate and INotifyPropertyChanged

    // props
    public ReactiveProperty<string> Name { get; } = new ReactiveProperty<string>();
}

(DOCS)

I created an Extension Method in my base Library for reuse:

public static class INotifyPropertyChangedExtensions
{
    public static bool SetPropertyAndNotify<T>(this INotifyPropertyChanged sender,
               PropertyChangedEventHandler handler, ref T field, T value, 
               [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = "",
               EqualityComparer<T> equalityComparer = null)
    {
        bool rtn = false;
        var eqComp = equalityComparer ?? EqualityComparer<T>.Default;
        if (!eqComp.Equals(field,value))
        {
            field = value;
            rtn = true;
            if (handler != null)
            {
                var args = new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName);
                handler(sender, args);
            }
        }
        return rtn;
    }
}

This works with .Net 4.5 because of CallerMemberNameAttribute. If you want to use it with an earlier .Net version you have to change the method declaration from: ...,[CallerMemberName] string propertyName = "", ... to ...,string propertyName, ...

Usage:

public class Dog : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
    string _name;

    public string Name
    {
        get { return _name; }
        set
        {
            this.SetPropertyAndNotify(PropertyChanged, ref _name, value);
        }
    }
}

=> here my solution with the following features

 public ResourceStatus Status
 {
     get { return _status; }
     set
     {
         _status = value;
         Notify(Npcea.Status,Npcea.Comments);
     }
 }

1. no refelction
2. short notation
3. no magic string in your business code
4. Reusability of PropertyChangedEventArgs across application
5. Possibility to notify multiple properties in one statement

I have just found ActiveSharp - Automatic INotifyPropertyChanged, I have yet to use it, but it looks good.

To quote from it's web site...

Send property change notifications without specifying property name as a string.

Instead, write properties like this:

public int Foo
{
    get { return _foo; }
    set { SetValue(ref _foo, value); }  // <-- no property name here
}

Note that there is no need to include the name of the property as a string. ActiveSharp reliably and correctly figures that out for itself. It works based on the fact that your property implementation passes the backing field (_foo) by ref. (ActiveSharp uses that "by ref" call to identify which backing field was passed, and from the field it identifies the property).

I realize this question already has a gazillion answers, but none of them felt quite right for me. My issue is I don't want any performance hits and am willing to put up with a little verbosity for that reason alone. I also don't care too much for auto properties either, which led me to the following solution:

public abstract class AbstractObject : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

    public void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
    {
        PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }

    protected virtual bool SetValue<TKind>(ref TKind Source, TKind NewValue, params string[] Notify)
    {
        //Set value if the new value is different from the old
        if (!Source.Equals(NewValue))
        {
            Source = NewValue;

            //Notify all applicable properties
            foreach (var i in Notify)
                OnPropertyChanged(i);

            return true;
        }

        return false;
    }

    public AbstractObject()
    {
    }
}

In other words, the above solution is convenient if you don't mind doing this:

public class SomeObject : AbstractObject
{
    public string AnotherProperty
    {
        get
        {
            return someProperty ? "Car" : "Plane";
        }
    }

    bool someProperty = false;
    public bool SomeProperty
    {
        get
        {
            return someProperty;
        }
        set
        {
            SetValue(ref someProperty, value, "SomeProperty", "AnotherProperty");
        }
    }

    public SomeObject() : base()
    {
    }
}

Pros

• No reflection
• Only notifies if old value != new value
• Notify multiple properties at once

Cons

• No auto properties (you can add support for both, though!)
• Some verbosity
• Boxing (small performance hit?)

Alas, it is still better than doing this,

set
{
    if (!someProperty.Equals(value))
    {
        someProperty = value;
        OnPropertyChanged("SomeProperty");
        OnPropertyChanged("AnotherProperty");
    }
}

For every single property, which becomes a nightmare with the additional verbosity ;-(

Note, I do not claim this solution is better performance-wise compared to the others, just that it is a viable solution for those who don't like the other solutions presented.

Talk about massive overengineering. This is significantly more complex than just doing it the right way and gives little to no benefit. If your IDE supports code snippets (Visual Studio/MonoDevelop do) then you can make implementing this ridiculously simple. All you'd actually have to type is the type of the property and the property name. The extra three lines of code will be autogenerated.

I think people should pay a little more attention to performance; it really does impact the UI when there are a lot of objects to be bound (think of a grid with 10,000+ rows), or if the object's value changes frequently (real-time monitoring app).

I took various implementation found here and elsewhere and did a comparison; check it out perfomance comparison of INotifyPropertyChanged implementations.

Here is a peek at the result

There's also Fody which has a PropertyChanged add-in, which lets you write this:

[ImplementPropertyChanged]
public class Person 
{        
    public string GivenNames { get; set; }
    public string FamilyName { get; set; }
}

...and at compile time injects property changed notifications.

I really like Marc's solution, but I think it can be slightly improved to avoid using a "magic string" (which doesn't support refactoring). Instead of using the property name as a string, it's easy to make it a lambda expression :

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

Just add the following methods to Marc's code, it will do the trick :

protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged<T>(Expression<Func<T>> selectorExpression)
{
    if (selectorExpression == null)
        throw new ArgumentNullException("selectorExpression");
    MemberExpression body = selectorExpression.Body as MemberExpression;
    if (body == null)
        throw new ArgumentException("The body must be a member expression");
    OnPropertyChanged(body.Member.Name);
}

protected bool SetField<T>(ref T field, T value, Expression<Func<T>> selectorExpression)
{
    if (EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(field, value)) return false;
    field = value;
    OnPropertyChanged(selectorExpression);
    return true;
}

BTW, this was inspired by this blog post updated URL

Use this

using System;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Reflection.Emit;
using System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging;
using System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies;


public static class ObservableFactory
{
    public static T Create<T>(T target)
    {
        if (!typeof(T).IsInterface)
            throw new ArgumentException("Target should be an interface", "target");

        var proxy = new Observable<T>(target);
        return (T)proxy.GetTransparentProxy();
    }
}

internal class Observable<T> : RealProxy, INotifyPropertyChanged, INotifyPropertyChanging
{
    private readonly T target;

    internal Observable(T target)
        : base(ImplementINotify(typeof(T)))
    {
        this.target = target;
    }

    public override IMessage Invoke(IMessage msg)
    {
        var methodCall = msg as IMethodCallMessage;

        if (methodCall != null)
        {
            return HandleMethodCall(methodCall);
        }

        return null;
    }

    public event PropertyChangingEventHandler PropertyChanging;
    public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;



    IMessage HandleMethodCall(IMethodCallMessage methodCall)
    {
        var isPropertySetterCall = methodCall.MethodName.StartsWith("set_");
        var propertyName = isPropertySetterCall ? methodCall.MethodName.Substring(4) : null;

        if (isPropertySetterCall)
        {
            OnPropertyChanging(propertyName);
        }

        try
        {
            object methodCalltarget = target;

            if (methodCall.MethodName == "add_PropertyChanged" || methodCall.MethodName == "remove_PropertyChanged"||
                methodCall.MethodName == "add_PropertyChanging" || methodCall.MethodName == "remove_PropertyChanging")
            {
                methodCalltarget = this;
            }

            var result = methodCall.MethodBase.Invoke(methodCalltarget, methodCall.InArgs);

            if (isPropertySetterCall)
            {
                OnPropertyChanged(methodCall.MethodName.Substring(4));
            }

            return new ReturnMessage(result, null, 0, methodCall.LogicalCallContext, methodCall);
        }
        catch (TargetInvocationException invocationException)
        {
            var exception = invocationException.InnerException;
            return new ReturnMessage(exception, methodCall);
        }
    }

    protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
    {
        var handler = PropertyChanged;
        if (handler != null) handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
    }

    protected virtual void OnPropertyChanging(string propertyName)
    {
        var handler = PropertyChanging;
        if (handler != null) handler(this, new PropertyChangingEventArgs(propertyName));
    }

    public static Type ImplementINotify(Type objectType)
    {
        var tempAssemblyName = new AssemblyName(Guid.NewGuid().ToString());

        var dynamicAssembly = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.DefineDynamicAssembly(
            tempAssemblyName, AssemblyBuilderAccess.RunAndCollect);

        var moduleBuilder = dynamicAssembly.DefineDynamicModule(
            tempAssemblyName.Name,
            tempAssemblyName + ".dll");

        var typeBuilder = moduleBuilder.DefineType(
            objectType.FullName, TypeAttributes.Public | TypeAttributes.Interface | TypeAttributes.Abstract);

        typeBuilder.AddInterfaceImplementation(objectType);
        typeBuilder.AddInterfaceImplementation(typeof(INotifyPropertyChanged));
        typeBuilder.AddInterfaceImplementation(typeof(INotifyPropertyChanging));
        var newType = typeBuilder.CreateType();
        return newType;
    }
}

}