Aprenda Arrays vs. Lists: When to Use Each | Working with Lists and Arrays

When working with collections of data in C#, you often need to decide between using an array or a list. Both have their strengths and ideal use cases. The following table compares arrays and lists based on mutability, performance, and typical scenarios where each is preferred:

Feature	Array	List
Size	Fixed after creation	Dynamic, can grow or shrink
Mutability	Elements mutable, size fixed	Elements and size mutable
Performance	Slightly faster for fixed size	Slightly slower, overhead for resizing
Syntax	Simple, uses `[]`	Uses generic syntax `List<T>`
Use Cases	Known size, performance critical	Unknown or changing size, flexibility
Conversion	Can convert to/from lists easily	Can convert to/from arrays easily
Methods Available	Limited (Length, basic ops)	Rich set (Add, Remove, etc.)

Arrays are best when you know the number of elements ahead of time and need maximum performance. Lists are more flexible and provide many helpful methods for managing elements.

Program.cs


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using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace ConsoleApp
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void PrintNumbersArray(int[] numbers)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Array contents:");
            foreach (int num in numbers)
            {
                Console.Write(num + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        public static void PrintNumbersList(List<int> numbers)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("List contents:");
            foreach (int num in numbers)
            {
                Console.Write(num + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            int[] numbersArray = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
            List<int> numbersList = new List<int> { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };

            PrintNumbersArray(numbersArray);
            PrintNumbersList(numbersList);
        }
    }
}

To write methods that work with both arrays and lists, you can use interfaces like IEnumerable<T> or ICollection<T>. These interfaces allow your method to accept any collection that implements them, including arrays and lists. For example, a method that accepts IEnumerable<int> can take either an int[] or a List<int>, making your code more flexible and reusable.

Program.cs


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using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace ConsoleApp
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Convert List to Array
            List<string> fruitsList = new List<string> { "apple", "banana", "cherry" };
            string[] fruitsArray = fruitsList.ToArray();

            // Convert Array to List
            int[] numbersArray = { 1, 2, 3 };
            List<int> numbersList = new List<int>(numbersArray);

            Console.WriteLine("Fruits Array:");
            foreach (string fruit in fruitsArray)
            {
                Console.Write(fruit + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();

            Console.WriteLine("Numbers List:");
            foreach (int number in numbersList)
            {
                Console.Write(number + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
    }
}

1. When is it preferable to use an array over a list?

2. How can you convert a List to an array?

3. Fill in the blanks to write a method that accepts a `List<int>` as a parameter.

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Obrigado pelo seu feedback!

Seção 1. Capítulo 6

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Feature	Array	List
Size	Fixed after creation	Dynamic, can grow or shrink
Mutability	Elements mutable, size fixed	Elements and size mutable
Performance	Slightly faster for fixed size	Slightly slower, overhead for resizing
Syntax	Simple, uses `[]`	Uses generic syntax `List<T>`
Use Cases	Known size, performance critical	Unknown or changing size, flexibility
Conversion	Can convert to/from lists easily	Can convert to/from arrays easily
Methods Available	Limited (Length, basic ops)	Rich set (Add, Remove, etc.)

Arrays are best when you know the number of elements ahead of time and need maximum performance. Lists are more flexible and provide many helpful methods for managing elements.

Program.cs


              1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
            
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace ConsoleApp
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void PrintNumbersArray(int[] numbers)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Array contents:");
            foreach (int num in numbers)
            {
                Console.Write(num + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        public static void PrintNumbersList(List<int> numbers)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("List contents:");
            foreach (int num in numbers)
            {
                Console.Write(num + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            int[] numbersArray = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
            List<int> numbersList = new List<int> { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };

            PrintNumbersArray(numbersArray);
            PrintNumbersList(numbersList);
        }
    }
}

Program.cs


              12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
            
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace ConsoleApp
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Convert List to Array
            List<string> fruitsList = new List<string> { "apple", "banana", "cherry" };
            string[] fruitsArray = fruitsList.ToArray();

            // Convert Array to List
            int[] numbersArray = { 1, 2, 3 };
            List<int> numbersList = new List<int>(numbersArray);

            Console.WriteLine("Fruits Array:");
            foreach (string fruit in fruitsArray)
            {
                Console.Write(fruit + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();

            Console.WriteLine("Numbers List:");
            foreach (int number in numbersList)
            {
                Console.Write(number + " ");
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
    }
}

1. When is it preferable to use an array over a list?

2. How can you convert a List to an array?

3. Fill in the blanks to write a method that accepts a `List<int>` as a parameter.

Tudo estava claro?

Obrigado pelo seu feedback!

Seção 1. Capítulo 6

Arrays vs. Lists: When to Use Each

1. When is it preferable to use an array over a list?

2. How can you convert a List to an array?

3. Fill in the blanks to write a method that accepts a List<int> as a parameter.

Arrays vs. Lists: When to Use Each

1. When is it preferable to use an array over a list?

2. How can you convert a List to an array?

3. Fill in the blanks to write a method that accepts a List<int> as a parameter.

3. Fill in the blanks to write a method that accepts a `List<int>` as a parameter.

3. Fill in the blanks to write a method that accepts a `List<int>` as a parameter.