Question

Wondering if there is any way to get the lambda expressions that result from a LINQ “query” syntax expression.

Given:

var query = from c in dc.Colors
            where c.ID == 213
            orderby c.Name, c.Description
            select new {c.ID, c.Name, c.Description };

Is there any way to get the generated “lambda” code / expression?

var query = dc.Colors
    .Where(c => c.ID == 213)
    .OrderBy(c => c.Name)
    .ThenBy(c => c.Description)
    .Select(c => new {c.ID, c.Name, c.Description, });

I know these are very simple examples and that the C# compiler generates a lambda expression from the query expression when compiling the code. Is there any way to get a copy of that expression?

I am hoping to use this as a training tool for some of my team members that aren’t very comfortable with lambda expressions. Also, I have used Linq Pad, but ideally this can be accomplised without a 3rd party tool.

Answer 1

Simply go:

string lambdaSyntax = query.Expression.ToString();

The disadvantage compared to LINQPad is that the result is formatted all one line.