C# Copy variables into buffer without creating garbage?

Question

Is it possible in C# .Net (3.5 and above) to copy a variable into a byte[] buffer without creating any garbage in the process?

For instance:

int variable         


        

Answer 1

Use pointers is the best and the fastest way: You can do this with any number of variables, there is no wasted memory, the fixed statement has a little overhead but it's too small

        int v1 = 123;
        float v2 = 253F;
        byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
        fixed (byte* pbuffer = buffer)
        {
            //v1 is stored on the first 4 bytes of the buffer:
            byte* scan = pbuffer;
            *(int*)(scan) = v1;
            scan += 4; //4 bytes per int

            //v2 is stored on the second 4 bytes of the buffer:
            *(float*)(scan) = v2;
            scan += 4; //4 bytes per float
        }