How to define a type extension for T[] in F#?

Question

In C#, I can define an extension method for a generic array of type T like this:

public static T GetOrDefault(this T[] arr, int n)
{
    if (arr.Len         


        

Answer 1

You have to write the array type using 'backtick marks' - like this:

type 'a ``[]`` with
  member x.GetOrDefault(n) = 
    if x.Length > n then x.[n]
    else Unchecked.defaultof<'a>

let arr = [|1; 2; 3|]
arr.GetOrDefault(1) //2
arr.GetOrDefault(4) //0

Edit: The syntax type ``[]``<'a> with ... seems to be allowed as well. In the F# source (prim-types-prelude.fs) you can find the following definition:

type ``[]``<'T> = (# "!0[]" #)

Answer 2

Good question. I can't figure out how to extend 'T[] but you can take advantage of the fact that arrays implement IList<_> to do:

type System.Collections.Generic.IList<'T> with
  member x.GetOrDefault(n) = 
    if x.Count > n then x.[n]
    else Unchecked.defaultof<'T>

let arr = [|1; 2; 3|]
arr.GetOrDefault(1) //2
arr.GetOrDefault(4) //0