What are the best practices for using collections in C#?

What are the best practices for using collections in C#?

When using collections in C#, consider the following best practices: 1. Choose the right collection type (e.g., List, Dictionary, HashSet) based on your needs. 2. Use generics to ensure type safety and avoid boxing/unboxing. 3. Prefer immutable collections when possible to prevent unintended modifications. 4. Be mindful of performance implications, especially with large datasets.

Can you explain why generics are important?

Generics are important because they provide type safety at compile time, reducing runtime errors. They also improve performance by eliminating the need for boxing and unboxing when using value types. This leads to more efficient memory usage and faster execution.

What are immutable collections?

Immutable collections are collections that cannot be modified after they are created. This means you cannot add, remove, or change elements. They are useful in multi-threaded environments as they help avoid issues related to concurrent modifications.

How do I choose between List and Array?

Choose a List when you need a dynamic size and more functionality, like adding or removing items. Use an Array when you know the size in advance and need better performance for fixed-size collections.

What performance considerations should I keep in mind?

Consider the time complexity of operations like adding, removing, and searching. For example, Lists have O(n) for removing items, while HashSets have O(1) for lookups. Always choose the collection type that best fits your performance needs.