Smart completion

This command filters the list of types, methods, and variables to match the expected type of an expression. It works anywhere as long as ReSharper can determine the expected type of the expression, for example, right-hand sides of assignments, variable initializers, or return statements. If several return types are possible, ReSharper detects the most recently used symbol of an applicable type and automatically selects it in the lookup list. Type-Matching Completion can also suggest creating anonymous delegates, lambda expressions, and regular methods, as well as local variables for out parameters. In addition to that, in object initializers, Type-Matching Completion suggests fields/properties that were not yet assigned a value.

By default, smart completion items in C# and VB.NET are included in the suggestion lists of automatic and basic completion. If you want to change the default behavior, use the corresponding controls on the Environment | IntelliSense | Completion Behavior page of ReSharper options.

Invoke smart completion

Place the caret at the position where you're going to type your code.
Press Control+Shift+Space.
Select a suggestion from the list and press Enter or start typing the initial letters of the identifier or its CamelHumps abbreviation to narrow down the list of suggestions.
If necessary, you can disable CamelHumps by clearing the Match middle of identifiers checkbox on the Environment | IntelliSense | Completion Behavior page of ReSharper options (Alt+R, O).

When you use code completion over existing code items, you can either insert the selected completion suggestion before the existing item by pressing Enter or replace the existing identifier with the selected suggestion by pressing Tab. If necessary, you can change the default shortcuts on the Environment | IntelliSense | Completion Characters page of ReSharper options (Alt+R, O).

When you select items in completion lists using keyboard, the selection will jump to the first item after the last item and vice versa. You can disable this behavior by clearing Loop selection around ends of a list on the Environment | IntelliSense | Completion Appearance page of ReSharper options (Alt+R, O).

Exclude types and namespaces from completion suggestions

You may want some types or namespaces not to be suggested, for example, if you have something similar to a system type in your solution, say MyFramework.MyCollections.List, but you are not actually using it. To exclude such items from the suggestions, add them to the Exclude from import and completion list on the Code Editing | Type Import page of ReSharper options (Alt+R, O).

The format of the entries is Fully.Qualified.Name, Fully.Qualified.Name.Prefix*, or *Fully.Qualified.Name.Suffix. Generic types are specified as List`1.

Examples of smart completion

You can use the following examples to get an idea of how smart type-matching completion works with various code items:

After a return statement

ReSharper: smart completion after return statement

In the right-hand side of assignments

In cast expressions

Before:

After launching Type-Matching Completion (since there's a single option in this case, ReSharper inserts the expected type without displaying a list):

In object initializers

ReSharper provides Type-Matching Completion for setting properties in object initializers that were not previously set for a particular object:

In lambda expressions

In addition to traditional anonymous and named methods, Type-Matching Completion readily generates lambda-expression syntax:

Creating a local variable in place of an out parameter

Using CamelHumps

This feature is supported in the following languages and technologies:

The instructions and examples given here address the use of the feature in C#. For details specific to other languages, see corresponding topics in the ReSharper by language section.

Last modified: 07 April 2022