Retrieving the calling method name from within a method

I have a method in an object that is called from a number of places within the object. Is there a quick and easy way to get the name of the method that called this popular method.

Pseudo Code EXAMPLE:

public Main()
{
     PopularMethod();
}

public ButtonClick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
     PopularMethod();
}

public Button2Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
     PopularMethod();
}

public void PopularMethod()
{
     //Get calling method name
}

Within PopularMethod() I would like to see the value of Main if it was called from Main ... I'd like to see "ButtonClick" if PopularMethod() was called from ButtonClick

I was looking at the System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod() but that won't get me the calling method. I've looked at the StackTrace class but I really didn't relish running an entire stack trace every time that method is called.

In .NET 4.5 / C# 5, this is simple:

public void PopularMethod([CallerMemberName] string caller = null)
{
     // look at caller
}

The compiler adds the caller's name automatically; so:

void Foo() {
    PopularMethod();
}

will pass in "Foo".

I don't think it can be done without tracing the stack. However, it's fairly simple to do that:

StackTrace stackTrace = new StackTrace();
MethodBase methodBase = stackTrace.GetFrame(1).GetMethod();
Console.WriteLine(methodBase.Name); // e.g.

However, I think you really have to stop and ask yourself if this is necessary.

This is actually really simple.

public void PopularMethod()
{
    var currentMethod = System.Reflection.MethodInfo
        .GetCurrentMethod(); // as MethodBase
}

But be careful through, I'm a bit skeptical to if inlining the method has any effect. You can do this to make sure that the JIT compiler won't get in the way.

[System.Runtime.CompilerServices.MethodImpl(
 System.Runtime.CompilerServices.MethodImplOptions.NoInlining)]
public void PopularMethod()
{
    var currentMethod = System.Reflection.MethodInfo
        .GetCurrentMethod();
}

To get the calling method:

[System.Runtime.CompilerServices.MethodImpl(
 System.Runtime.CompilerServices.MethodImplOptions.NoInlining)]
public void PopularMethod()
{
    // 1 == skip frames, false = no file info
    var callingMethod = new System.Diagnostics.StackTrace(1, false)
         .GetFrame(0).GetMethod();
}

Just pass in a parameter

public void PopularMethod(object sender)
{

}

IMO: If it's good enough for events it should be good enough for this.

I have often found my self wanting to do this, but have always ending up refactoring the design of my system so I don't get this "Tail wagging the dog" anti-pattern. The result has always been a more robust architecture.

While you can most definitley trace the Stack and figure it out that way, I would urge you to rethink your design. If your method needs to know about some sort of "state", I would say just create an enum or something, and take that as a Parameter to your PopularMethod(). Something along those lines. Based on what you're posting, tracing the stack would be overkill IMO.

I think you do need to use the StackTrace class and then StackFrame.GetMethod() on the next frame.

This seems like a strange thing to use Reflection for though. If you are defining PopularMethod, can't go define a parameter or something to pass the information you really want. (Or put in on a base class or something...)