C# - List<T>

The List<T> is a collection of strongly typed objects that can be accessed by index and having methods for sorting, searching, and modifying list. It is the generic version of the ArrayList that comes under System.Collection.Generic namespace.

List<T> Characteristics

• List<T> equivalent of the ArrayList, which implements IList<T>.
• It comes under System.Collections.Generic namespace.
• List<T> can contain elements of the specified type. It provides compile-time type checking and doesn't perform boxing-unboxing because it is generic.
• Elements can be added using the Add(), AddRange() methods or collection-initializer syntax.
• Elements can be accessed by passing an index e.g. myList[0]. Indexes start from zero.
• List<T> performs faster and less error-prone than the ArrayList.

Creating a List

The List<T> is a generic collection, so you need to specify a type parameter for the type of data it can store. The following example shows how to create list and add elements.

List<int> primeNumbers = new List<int>();
primeNumbers.Add(1); // adding elements using add() method
primeNumbers.Add(3);
primeNumbers.Add(5);
primeNumbers.Add(7);

var cities = new List<string>();
cities.Add("New York");
cities.Add("London");
cities.Add("Mumbai");
cities.Add("Chicago");
cities.Add(null);// nulls are allowed for reference type list

//adding elements using collection-initializer syntax
var bigCities = new List<string>()
                    {
                        "New York",
                        "London",
                        "Mumbai",
                        "Chicago"                    
                    };

In the above example, List<int> primeNumbers = new List<int>(); creates a list of int type. In the same way, cities and bigCities are string type list. You can then add elements in a list using the Add() method or the collection-initializer syntax.

You can also add elements of the custom classes using the collection-initializer syntax. The following adds objects of the Student class in the List<Student>.

var students = new List<Student>() { 
                new Student(){ Id = 1, Name="Bill"},
                new Student(){ Id = 2, Name="Steve"},
                new Student(){ Id = 3, Name="Ram"},
                new Student(){ Id = 4, Name="Abdul"}
            };

Adding an Array in a List

Use the AddRange() method to add all the elements from an array or another collection to List.

AddRange() signature: void AddRange(IEnumerable<T> collection)

string[] cities = new string[3]{ "Mumbai", "London", "New York" };

var popularCities = new List<string>();

// adding an array in a List
popularCities.AddRange(cities);

var favouriteCities = new List<string>();

// adding a List 
favouriteCities.AddRange(popularCities);

Accessing a List

A list can be accessed by an index, a for/foreach loop, and using LINQ queries. Indexes of a list start from zero. Pass an index in the square brackets to access individual list items, same as array. Use a foreach or for loop to iterate a List<T> collection.

List<int> numbers = new List<int>() { 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 };
Console.WriteLine(numbers[0]); // prints 1
Console.WriteLine(numbers[1]); // prints 2
Console.WriteLine(numbers[2]); // prints 5
Console.WriteLine(numbers[3]); // prints 7

// using foreach LINQ method
numbers.ForEach(num => Console.WriteLine(num + ", "));//prints 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10,

// using for loop
for(int i = 0; i < numbers.Count; i++)
    Console.WriteLine(numbers[i]);

Accessing a List using LINQ

The List<T> implements the IEnumerable interface. So, we can query a list using LINQ query syntax or method syntax, as shown below.

var students = new List<Student>() { 
                new Student(){ Id = 1, Name="Bill"},
                new Student(){ Id = 2, Name="Steve"},
                new Student(){ Id = 3, Name="Ram"},
                new Student(){ Id = 4, Name="Abdul"}
            };

//get all students whose name is Bill
var result = from s in students
	     where s.Name == "Bill"
	     select s;
		
foreach(var student in result)
    Console.WriteLine(student.Id + ", " + student.Name);

Insert Elements in List

Use the Insert() method inserts an element into the List<T> collection at the specified index.

Insert() signature:void Insert(int index, T item);

var numbers = new List<int>(){ 10, 20, 30, 40 };

numbers.Insert(1, 11);// inserts 11 at 1st index: after 10.

foreach (var num in numbers)
    Console.Write(num);

Remove Elements from List

Use the Remove() method to remove the first occurrence of the specified element in the List<T> collection. Use the RemoveAt() method to remove an element from the specified index. If no element at the specified index, then the ArgumentOutOfRangeException will be thrown.

Remove() signature: bool Remove(T item)

RemoveAt() signature: void RemoveAt(int index)

var numbers = new List<int>(){ 10, 20, 30, 40, 10 };

numbers.Remove(10); // removes the first 10 from a list

numbers.RemoveAt(2); //removes the 3rd element (index starts from 0)

//numbers.RemoveAt(10); //throws ArgumentOutOfRangeException

foreach (var el in intList)
    Console.Write(el); //prints 20 30

Check Elements in List

Use the Contains() method to determine whether an element is in the List<T> or not.

var numbers = new List<int>(){ 10, 20, 30, 40 };
numbers.Contains(10); // returns true
numbers.Contains(11); // returns false
numbers.Contains(20); // returns true

List<T> Class Hierarchy

The following diagram illustrates the List<T> hierarchy.

List<T> Class Properties and Methods

The following table lists the important properties and methods of List<T> class: