---
title: Find an item through IBindingList
summary: Implements the Find entry point by delegating search behavior to the subclass hook.
status: draft
owner: SAIF Team
last_reviewed: 2026-07-30
library: SAIF.Framework.Bindable
reference_type: package
operation_id: OP-BIND-004
trigger: Caller invokes IBindingList.Find(...)
---

# Find an item through IBindingList

This operation is `clsBindableCollectionBase`'s explicit `IBindingList.Find(...)` implementation. Rather than searching the collection itself, it forwards every request to the protected `IBindingList_Find(...)` extension point, so the actual search algorithm is entirely the subclass's responsibility.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| **Operation ID** | `OP-BIND-004` |
| **Trigger** | Caller invokes `IBindingList.Find(PropertyDescriptor property, object key)`. |
| **Inputs** | `PropertyDescriptor property`, `object key`. |
| **Outputs** | Integer index from `IBindingList_Find(...)`; the unoverridden base hook always returns `-1`. |
| **Primary components** | `clsBindableCollectionBase.IBindingList.Find`, `clsBindableCollectionBase.IBindingList_Find` |
| **Entry point** | `SAIF.Framework.Bindable\clsBindableCollectionBase.cs` |

## Steps

1. A caller invokes the explicit `IBindingList.Find(...)` implementation, supplying the property to search on and the key value to match.
2. The method forwards both arguments unchanged to the protected virtual `IBindingList_Find(property, key)` hook.
3. The hook returns an integer index — its meaning depends entirely on whether a subclass has overridden it.
4. The method returns that integer result to the caller without further interpretation.
5. In the base class, the default `IBindingList_Find(...)` implementation simply returns `-1`, so an unoverridden collection reports every search as a non-match.

## Process flow

The following diagram visualizes this operation's control flow.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
	Start([Caller invokes IBindingList.Find]) --> Delegate[Call IBindingList_Find(property, key)]
	Delegate --> Result{Returned index}
	Result -->|>= 0| Found([Return matching index])
	Result -->|-1| NotFound([Return not found indicator])
```

## Failure and edge-case behavior

- Base implementation only: the operation returns `-1` for every call, so no match is ever reported unless a subclass overrides `IBindingList_Find(...)` with real lookup logic.
- The method does not check `AllowFind` before forwarding: a direct caller can still invoke `Find(...)` even when `SupportsSearching` reports `false`, and will simply receive whatever the hook returns.

## Related documentation
- [Operations and processes](../operations-processes.md)
- [Business rules](../business-rules.md)

## Sources
- `SAIF.Framework.Bindable\clsBindableCollectionBase.cs`