Quick way to create a list of values in C#?

Question

I\'m looking for a quick way to create a list of values in C#. In Java I frequently use the snippet below:

List l = Arrays.asList(\"test1\",\"test2         


        

Answer 1

You can simplify that line of code slightly in C# by using a collection initialiser.

var lst = new List<string> {"test1","test2","test3"};

Answer 2

If you want to create a typed list with values, here's the syntax.

Assuming a class of Student like

public class Student {
   public int StudentID { get; set; }
   public string StudentName { get; set; }
 }   

You can make a list like this:

IList<Student> studentList = new List<Student>() { 
                new Student(){ StudentID=1, StudentName="Bill"},
                new Student(){ StudentID=2, StudentName="Steve"},
                new Student(){ StudentID=3, StudentName="Ram"},
                new Student(){ StudentID=1, StudentName="Moin"}
            };

Answer 3

You can drop the new string[] part:

List<string> values = new List<string> { "one", "two", "three" };

Answer 4

IList<string> list = new List<string> {"test1", "test2", "test3"}

Answer 5

You can do that with

var list = new List<string>{ "foo", "bar" };

Here are some other common instantiations of other common Data Structures:

Dictionary

var dictionary = new Dictionary<string, string> 
{
    { "texas",   "TX" },
    { "utah",    "UT" },
    { "florida", "FL" }
};

Array list

var array = new string[] { "foo", "bar" };

Queue

var queque = new Queue<int>(new[] { 1, 2, 3 });

Stack

var queque = new Stack<int>(new[] { 1, 2, 3 });

As you can see for the majority of cases it is merely adding the values in curly braces, or instantiating a new array followed by curly braces and values.

Answer 6

Check out C# 3.0's Collection Initializers.

var list = new List<string> { "test1", "test2", "test3" };