Why IEnumerable<T> is defined as IEnumerable<out T>, not IEnumerable<T>

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12424537/why-ienumerablet-is-defined-as-ienumerableout-t-not-ienumerablet

The

out

type parameter specifier denotes covariance.

In practice,

If I define two interfaces.

[code]ISomeInterface<T>{}

ISomeCovariantInterface<out T>{}

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Then, I implement them like this.

[code]SomeClass<T>:ISomeInterface<T>,ISomeCovariantInterface<T>{}

[/code]
Then I try to compile this code,

[code]ISomeCovariantInterface<object>=newSomeClass<string>();// works

ISomeInterface<object>=newSomeClass<string>();// fails

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The is because the covariant interface allows more derived instances, where as, the standard interface does not.

public interface ISomeInterface<T> { }

public interface ISomeCovariantInterface<out T> { }

public class SomeClass<T> : ISomeInterface<T>, ISomeCovariantInterface<T> { }

var obj = new SomeClass<string>();

ISomeCovariantInterface<object> obj1 = obj;// works
ISomeCovariantInterface<string> obj2 = obj;// works
ISomeInterface<string> obj3 = obj;//work
//ISomeInterface<object> obj4 = obj;//不可编译