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List Nested ExampleUse a nested List to store data in two dimensions. Nested lists are like jagged or 2D lists.
C#
This page was last reviewed on Jan 12, 2024.
List, nested. A List can have elements of List type. This is a jagged list, similar in syntax to a jagged array. Lists are not by default multidimensional in C#.
Shows a list
2D list solution. To store more complex shapes of data, we can develop multidimensional Lists. We use an easily-developed and expandable data structure.
Requirements. Consider this shape: the first row has 3 elements, the next row just has 1, and then we have a row with 4 elements. We require a nested list solution that allows this data.Shows a list
0 1 2 2 1 2 3 4
Example code. The C# List provides an underlying and internal array where it stores its elements. But it always specifies a one-dimensional and zero-based array in its internal structure.
List
Part 1 We create a list, and add sub-lists to it. The first List will contain an internal array of List references.
Part 2 This method receives a nested list parameter type. It uses foreach to loop over the inner contents of each List.
foreach
var
Part 3 We can access a specific element within a nested list. The top-level list is accessed first, and then the sub-list.
Part 4 The total count of a nested list must be computed by accessing all the sub lists from the top-level list.
using System; using System.Collections.Generic; class Program { static void Main() { // Part 1: add rows and columns to the List. List<List<int>> list = new List<List<int>>(); var rand = new Random(); for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) { // Put some integers in the inner lists. List<int> sublist = new List<int>(); int top = rand.Next(1, 4); for (int v = 0; v < top; v++) { sublist.Add(rand.Next(1, 5)); } // Add the sublist to the top-level List. list.Add(sublist); } // Display the List. Display(list); } static void Display(List<List<int>> list) { // Part 2: loop over and display everything in the List. Console.WriteLine("Elements:"); foreach (var sublist in list) { foreach (var value in sublist) { Console.Write(value); Console.Write(' '); } Console.WriteLine(); } // Part 3: display element. Console.WriteLine("Element at 1, 0:"); Console.WriteLine(list[1][0]); // Part 4: display total count. int count = 0; foreach (var sublist in list) { count += sublist.Count; } Console.WriteLine("Count:"); Console.WriteLine(count); } }
Elements: 1 3 2 2 2 2 Element at 1, 0: 2 Count: 6
A discussion. As for performance, a nested List is relatively fast. It internally uses zero-based arrays, and the List type itself is fast.
But Adding another layer of abstraction and creating a nested class may be desirable.
Note This can help reduce the amount of complexity and syntax confusion at the calling sites.
Tip Another option is to encapsulate the List into a separate class. This could be better for real-world programs.
Summary. We used a nested List that is essentially a jagged or 2D List data type with the generic List class. The code here is not ideal. But it helps in prototyping or experimental work.
Array Flatten
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Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.
This page was last updated on Jan 12, 2024 (edit).
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