What is the purpose of the equals method in C#?

What is the purpose of the equals method in C#?

The equals method in C# is used to determine whether two object instances are considered equal. It can be overridden to provide custom equality logic.

How do I override the equals method in my class?

To override the equals method, you need to provide a new implementation in your class. Typically, you compare the relevant properties of the objects.

Can you show me an example of overriding equals?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

public class Person
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Age { get; set; }

    public override bool Equals(object obj)
    {
        if (obj is Person other)
        {
            return this.Name == other.Name && this.Age == other.Age;
        }
        return false;
    }
}

What about the GetHashCode method?

The GetHashCode method should also be overridden when you override equals. It ensures that equal objects have the same hash code, which is important for collections like hash tables.