What are the performance benefits of using immutable collections in C#?

What are the performance benefits of using immutable collections in C#?

Immutable collections in C# offer several performance benefits, such as thread safety, reduced memory overhead, and improved performance in certain scenarios due to their non-modifiable nature.

Can you explain how they compare to mutable collections?

Certainly! Mutable collections allow modifications, which can lead to issues in multi-threaded environments. Immutable collections, on the other hand, are inherently thread-safe and can lead to fewer bugs and easier reasoning about code.

Are there any specific scenarios where immutable collections outperform mutable ones?

Yes, immutable collections excel in scenarios involving concurrent access, functional programming paradigms, and when you need to maintain a history of changes without side effects.

What are some examples of immutable collections in C#?

Examples include ImmutableArray, ImmutableList, ImmutableDictionary, and ImmutableHashSet, all part of the System.Collections.Immutable namespace.