What is the difference between a Dictionary and a List in C#?

What is the difference between a Dictionary and a List in C#?

In C#, a List is an ordered collection of elements that can be accessed by index, while a Dictionary is a collection of key-value pairs where each key is unique.

Can you give me an example of when to use a Dictionary instead of a List?

Sure! Use a Dictionary when you need to quickly look up values by a unique key, like finding a person's phone number by their name.

What are the performance differences between them?

Lists have O(1) access time for elements by index, while Dictionaries have O(1) average time complexity for lookups by key, making them faster for key-based access.

Are there any limitations to using a Dictionary?

Yes, a Dictionary requires unique keys, and if you try to add a duplicate key, it will throw an exception.

Can I store complex objects in both?

Absolutely! Both Lists and Dictionaries can store complex objects, allowing you to create collections of custom types.