C# dictionaries ValueOrNull / ValueorDefault

Question

Currently I\'m using

var x = dict.ContainsKey(key) ? dict[key] : defaultValue

I\'d like some way to have dictionary[key] return null for nonexi

Answer 1

With an extension method:

public static class MyHelper
{
    public static V GetValueOrDefault(this IDictionary dic, 
                                            K key, 
                                            V defaultVal = default(V))
    {
        V ret;
        bool found = dic.TryGetValue(key, out ret);
        if (found) { return ret; }
        return defaultVal;
    }
    void Example()
    {
        var dict = new Dictionary();
        dict.GetValueOrDefault(42, "default");
    }
}