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

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

When using immutable collections in C#, it's important to consider performance, readability, and maintainability. Always prefer using built-in immutable types like ImmutableList or ImmutableDictionary from the System.Collections.Immutable namespace.

Can you explain why immutability is important?

Immutability is important because it helps prevent unintended side effects, making your code easier to reason about and less prone to bugs. It also enhances thread safety since immutable objects can be shared across threads without synchronization.

What are some common immutable collection types in C#?

Common immutable collection types in C# include ImmutableList, ImmutableArray, ImmutableDictionary, and ImmutableHashSet. Each of these provides a way to work with collections that cannot be modified after creation.

How do I convert a mutable collection to an immutable one?

You can convert a mutable collection to an immutable one by using the appropriate methods provided by the System.Collections.Immutable namespace, such as ToImmutableList() or ToImmutableDictionary(). This creates a new immutable collection based on the existing mutable one.