How to add different types of objects in a single array in C#?

Question

I am planning to rewrite my Python Tile Engine in C#. It uses a list of all the game objects and renders them on the screen. My problem is that unlike in Python where you ca

Answer 1

In c# we use an object[] array to store different types of data in each element location.

  object[] array1 = new object[5];
//
// - Put an empty object in the object array.
// - Put various object types in the array.
// - Put string literal in the array.
// - Put an integer constant in the array.
// - Put the null literal in the array.
//
array1[0] = new object();
array1[1] = new StringBuilder("Initialized");
array1[2] = "String literal";
array1[3] = 3;
array1[4] = null;

Answer 2

You can use an array of object class and all it possible to add different types of object in array.

object[] array = new object[3];
array[0] = 1;
array[1] = "string";
array[3] = 183.54;

Answer 3

You can write an abstract base class called GameObject, and make all gameObject Inherit it.

Edit:

public abstract class GameObject
{
        public GameObject();
}
public class TileStuff : GameObject
{
    public TileStuff()
    {

    }
}
public class MoreTileStuff : GameObject
{
    public MoreTileStuff()
    {

    }
}
public class Game
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        GameObject[] arr = new GameObject[2];
        arr[0] = new TileStuff();
        arr[1] = new MoreTileStuff();
    }
}

Answer 4

In C# 4 and later you can also use dynamic type.

dynamic[] inputArray = new dynamic[] { 0, 1, 2, "as", 0.2, 4, "t" };

Official docu

Answer 5

You can use object[] (an object array), but it would be more flexible to use List<object>. It satisfies your requirement that any kind of object can be added to it, and like an array, it can be accessed through a numeric index.

The advantage of using a List is you don't need to know how items it will hold when you create it. It can grow and shrink dynamically. Also, it has a richer API for manipulating the items it contains.

Answer 6

C# has an ArrayList that allows you to mix types within an array, or you can use an object array, object[]:

  var sr = new ArrayList() { 1, 2, "foo", 3.0 };
  var sr2 = new object[] { 1, 2, "foo", 3.0 };