c# - How to return generic object that could be from two different types -

i’m trying create middle layer allow me connect either live service or test service without making changes client.

i need return generic object called product use in client. middle layer don't need know how or it's from. middle layer connects live , test service , call method stuff need.

the problem returning product got whichever service client. method expecting product it's trying send liveservice.product or testservice.product.

is there way convert these types generic product type can returned client?

below have created far.

client

connection conn = new connection("test"); iserviceimplementation service = conn.getserviceimplementation(); product prod = service.getproductusingid(123); 

middle layer

public interface iserviceimplementation {     product getproductusingid (int productid); }  public class connection {     private string mode;      public connection(string _mode)     {         mode = _mode;     }      public iserviceimplementation getserviceimplementation()     {         if (mode == "live")         {             return new liveservice();         }         else if (mode == "test")         {             return new testservice();         }         else         {             return null;         }     } }  public class liveservice : iserviceimplementation {     public product getproductusingid (int productid)     {         liveservice.service live = new liveservice.service();         return live.getproduct(2638975);     } }  public class testservice : iserviceimplementation {     public product getproductusingid (int productid)     {         testservice.service test = new testservice.service();         return test.getproduct(2638975);     } } 

the easiest answer define own product class return.

public class myproduct {     //some properties  }  public myproduct getproductusingid (int productid) {     liveservice.service live = new liveservice.service();     var product = live.getproduct(2638975);     var myproduct = new myproduct();      //copy properties      myproduct.someprop = product.someprop;     //etc      return myproduct; } 

the alternative use partial classes. product class in each service namespace should defined partial. create part of partial in file each service type , inherit interface:

namespace somesharednamespace {     public interface iproduct     {         //shared properties need     } }  namespace liveservice {     public partial class product : iproduct     {         //implement interface     } }  namespace testservice {     public partial class product : iproduct     {         //implement interface     } } 

now each product implements iproduct interface, return that

public iproduct getproductusingid (int productid) {     liveservice.service live = new liveservice.service();     return live.getproduct(2638975); }