When should I use a Dictionary in C#?

When should I use a Dictionary in C#?

You should use a Dictionary in C# when you need to store key-value pairs and require fast lookups by key.

Can you give me an example of when a Dictionary is better than a List?

Sure! If you need to quickly find a value based on a unique key, like looking up a person's phone number by their name, a Dictionary is ideal.

What are the performance benefits of using a Dictionary?

Dictionaries provide average O(1) time complexity for lookups, insertions, and deletions, making them much faster than Lists for these operations.

Are there any downsides to using a Dictionary?

Yes, Dictionaries use more memory than Lists due to the overhead of storing keys and values, and they require unique keys.