Question

I have three classes that will each return a slightly different result.

// interfact to a king
public interface IKing{
  public Result Get();
}

// main abstract class
public abstract class King:IKing{
  public abstract Result Get();
}

// main abstract result
public abstract class Result{
  public int Type {get;set;}
}

// KingA result
public class ResultA:Result{
   ...
}

// KingB result
public class ResultB:Result{
   ...
}

// concrete implementations
public class KingA:King{
   public override ResultA Get(){
     return new ResultA;
   }
}

public class KingB:King{
   public override ResultB Get(){
     return new ResultB
   }
}

This will not work since the King overriden method of Get is expecting the Result class and will not accept its children ResultA and ResultB.

Is there a better approach I can take?

Answer 1

The usual approach is to use generics.

public interface IKing<T> where T:Result{
    T Get();
}

public class King<T> : IKing<T>
   public abstract T Get();
}

public class KingA : King<ResultB> {
    public override ResultA Get(){
        return new ResultA();
    }
}

public class KingB : King<ResultB> {
    public override ResultB Get(){
        return new ResultB();
    }
}

Edit: fixed syntax.