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Introduction
In C#, there are two main ways to store a collection of strings: string[] and List<string>. Both of these data structures have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to understand the difference between them before choosing which one to use.
Original source can be found @ Different Between string[] and List in C#
The main difference between string[] and List<string> in C# is that string[] is a fixed-size array, while List<string> is a dynamic list. This means that you can only add or remove elements from a string[] at compile time, while you can add or remove elements from a List<string> at runtime.
Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between string[] and List<string>:
| Feature | string[] | List |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Fixed | Dynamic |
| Elements | Can only be added or removed at compile time | Can be added or removed at runtime |
| Performance | Faster | Slower |
| Memory usage | Less memory usage | More memory usage |
In general, you should use string[] when you know the exact size of the array and you don't need to add or remove elements at runtime. You should use List<string> when you need to add or remove elements at runtime or when you don't know the exact size of the list.
Here are some examples of when you might use string[]:
- Storing a fixed number of strings, such as the names of months or days of the week
- Storing the results of a calculation, such as the Fibonacci sequence
- Storing the input or output of a function
Here are some examples of when you might use List<string>:
- Storing a list of user-entered data
- Storing a list of files in a directory
- Storing a list of objects in a game
Conclusion
The best way to decide which data structure to use is to consider the specific needs of your application. If you need a data structure that is fast and has a fixed size, then you should use string[]. If you need a data structure that is flexible and can be resized at runtime, then you should use List<string>.
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