Array Methods | Arrays | Csharp Tutorial

Introduction

Arrays are a fundamental data structure in C# that allow you to store multiple items of the same type together. Array methods are built-in functions that help you perform various operations on arrays, such as searching, sorting, and modifying elements. This tutorial will cover a range of array methods available in C#, providing detailed explanations and examples for each.

1. Initializing Arrays

Before we dive into array methods, let's see how to initialize arrays in C#:

int[] numbers = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
string[] fruits = new string[] { "Apple", "Banana", "Cherry" };

2. Length Property

The Length property gets the total number of elements in the array.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
Console.WriteLine(numbers.Length); // Output: 5

3. Accessing Elements

Elements in an array can be accessed using their index.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
Console.WriteLine(numbers[0]); // Output: 1
Console.WriteLine(numbers[4]); // Output: 5

4. Iterating Through Arrays

You can iterate through arrays using loops such as for and foreach.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Length; i++) {
    Console.WriteLine(numbers[i]);
}

// Using foreach loop
foreach (int number in numbers) {
    Console.WriteLine(number);
}

5. Array.Sort Method

The Sort method sorts the elements in an array in ascending order.

int[] numbers = { 5, 3, 8, 1, 2 };
Array.Sort(numbers);
foreach (int number in numbers) {
    Console.WriteLine(number); // Output: 1 2 3 5 8
}

6. Array.Reverse Method

The Reverse method reverses the order of the elements in the array.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
Array.Reverse(numbers);
foreach (int number in numbers) {
    Console.WriteLine(number); // Output: 5 4 3 2 1
}

7. Array.IndexOf Method

The IndexOf method returns the index of the first occurrence of a specified element.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
int index = Array.IndexOf(numbers, 3);
Console.WriteLine(index); // Output: 2

8. Array.Contains Method

The Contains method is used to check if an array contains a specific element. Note: This method is available in System.Linq namespace.

using System.Linq;

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
bool contains = numbers.Contains(3);
Console.WriteLine(contains); // Output: True

9. Array.Find Method

The Find method returns the first element that matches the specified conditions.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
int result = Array.Find(numbers, element => element > 3);
Console.WriteLine(result); // Output: 4

10. Array.FindAll Method

The FindAll method returns all the elements that match the specified conditions.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
int[] result = Array.FindAll(numbers, element => element > 2);
foreach (int number in result) {
    Console.WriteLine(number); // Output: 3 4 5
}

11. Array.Resize Method

The Resize method changes the number of elements in an array.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
Array.Resize(ref numbers, 7);
numbers[5] = 6;
numbers[6] = 7;
foreach (int number in numbers) {
    Console.WriteLine(number); // Output: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
}

12. Array.Clear Method

The Clear method sets a range of elements in the array to the default value of each element type.

int[] numbers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
Array.Clear(numbers, 1, 3);
foreach (int number in numbers) {
    Console.WriteLine(number); // Output: 1 0 0 0 5
}

13. Array.Copy Method

The Copy method copies a range of elements from one array to another.

int[] source = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
int[] destination = new int[5];
Array.Copy(source, destination, 5);
foreach (int number in destination) {
    Console.WriteLine(number); // Output: 1 2 3 4 5
}

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered several essential array methods available in C#. These methods provide powerful tools for working with arrays, making it easier to perform a wide range of operations, from searching and sorting to modifying and copying arrays. Understanding these methods will help you manipulate arrays more effectively and write more efficient code.

Array Methods in C#