[Overview][Constants][Types][Classes][Procedures and functions][Variables][Index] | Reference for unit 'Classes' (#rtl)

# TCollectionItem

[Properties (by Name)] [Methods (by Name)] [Events (by Name)]

Basic object that is managed by a TCollection class.

## Declaration

Source position: classesh.inc line 483

`type TCollectionItem = class(TPersistent)`
`public`
`constructor Create(); virtual;` |  | Creates a new instance of this collection item.
`destructor Destroy; override;` |  | Destroys this collection item.
`function GetNamePath; override;` |  | Returns the namepath of this collection item.
`property Collection: TCollection; [rw]` |  | Pointer to the collection managing this item.
`property ID: Integer; [r]` |  | Initial index of this item.
`property Index: Integer; [rw]` |  | Index of the item in its managing collection TCollection.Items property.
`property DisplayName: string; [rw]` |  | Name of the item, displayed in the object inspector.
`end;`

## Inheritance

`TCollectionItem` |  | Basic object that is managed by a TCollection class.
`TPersistent,IFPObserved` |  | Base class for streaming system and persistent properties.
`TObject` |  | Base class of all classes.

## Description

TCollectionItem and TCollection form a pair of base classes that manage a collection of named objects. The TCollectionItem is the named object that is managed, it represents one item in the collection. An item in the collection is represented by three properties: TCollectionItem.DisplayName, TCollection.Index and TCollectionItem.ID.

A TCollectionItem object is never created directly. To manage a set of named items, it is necessary to make a descendant of TCollectionItem to which needed properties and methods are added. This descendant can then be managed with a TCollection class. The managing collection will create and destroy it's items by itself, it should therefore never be necessary to create TCollectionItem descendants manually.

## See also

TCollection |  | Base class to manage collections of named objects.