Is there something like List<String, Int32, Int32> (multidimensional generic list)

Question

I need something similar to List<String, Int32, Int32>. List only supports one type at a time, and Dictionary only two at a time. Is there a clean way to do something like the above (a multidimensional generic list/collection)?

Impertinence

The duplication of Int32 is interesting. What are you trying to do? – Cowell

I have to associate two different numbers semantically with one string, which will then be used to render data in a view. – Impertinence

I think @Impertinence has java background such as me. – Spoiler

Answer 1

Best way is to create a container for it ie a class

public class Container
{
    public int int1 { get; set; }
    public int int2 { get; set; }
    public string string1 { get; set; }
}

then in the code where you need it

List<Container> myContainer = new List<Container>();

Chlorine

+1 since it doesn't require a .Net4 tuple and can be trivially implemented with a class, but -1 because you should avoid public fields on a class. Implement as a property and use simple {get; set;} instead. – Solfa

You will probably need to override Equals and GetHashCode too – Tempestuous

type Container should be an immutable struct since it only represent values. – Pick

Depending on the implementation needs for Alex, he can decide if he needs an Equals to, and also decide Class Vs Struct, again depending on the needs of his project, however if its just for storing values, then a struct would make sense. – Chlorine

Answer 2

In .NET 4 you can use List<Tuple<String, Int32, Int32>>.

Steere

Unfortunately I'm on .NET 3.5, but I'll keep this in mind for 4.0! – Impertinence

Answer 3

Well, you can't do this til C# 3.0, use Tuples if you can use C# 4.0 as mentioned in other answers.

However In C# 3.0 - create an Immutable structure and wrap all types' insances within the structure and pass the structure type as generic type argument to your list.

public struct Container
{
    public string String1 { get; private set; }
    public int Int1 { get; private set; }
    public int Int2 { get; private set; }

    public Container(string string1, int int1, int int2)
        : this()
    {
        this.String1 = string1;
        this.Int1 = int1;
        this.Int2 = int2;
    }
}

//Client code
IList<Container> myList = new List<Container>();
myList.Add(new Container("hello world", 10, 12));

If you're curious why create immutable structs - checkout here.

Pick

Answer 4

Based on your comment, it sounds like you need a struct with two integers stored in a dictionary with a string key.

struct MyStruct
{
   int MyFirstInt;
   int MySecondInt;
}

...

Dictionary<string, MyStruct> dictionary = ...

Cowell