C# Case Insensitive Dictionary - Dot Net Perls

Home Search	C# Case Insensitive Dictionary Create a case-insensitive Dictionary with StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase.
	Case, Dictionary. A case-insensitive Dictionary is ideal in some programs. It helps with comparing file names in Windows, which ignore case.Dictionary
	Notes, upper and lower. Sometimes user names are case-insensitive—upper and lower letters are treated as equal. We implement a case-insensitive string Dictionary.
	An example. The Dictionary class has several overloaded constructors. Here we use one that accepts a parameter of type IEqualityComparer(string). IEqualityComparer: This object implements an interface and is used by Dictionary to acquire hash codes and compare keys. IEqualityComparer New: We use a Dictionary constructor that accepts an IEqualityComparer. We specify StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase as the comparer. Methods: StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase implements (at minimum) 2 methods, Equals and GetHashCode. StringComparison, StringComparer Info: These 2 methods are used internally by the Dictionary to compute hash keys and compare buckets.	C# program that uses case-insensitive Dictionary using System; using System.Collections.Generic; class Program { static void Main() { // Create case insensitive string Dictionary. var caseInsensitiveDictionary = new Dictionary<string, int>( StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase); caseInsensitiveDictionary.Add("Cat", 2); caseInsensitiveDictionary.Add("Python", 4); caseInsensitiveDictionary.Add("DOG", 6); // Write value of "cat". Console.WriteLine(caseInsensitiveDictionary["CAT"]); // 2 // Write value of "PYTHON". Console.WriteLine(caseInsensitiveDictionary["PYTHON"]); // 4 // See if "dog" exists. if (caseInsensitiveDictionary.ContainsKey("dog")) { Console.WriteLine("Contains dog."); // <-- Displayed } // Enumerate all KeyValuePairs. foreach (var pair in caseInsensitiveDictionary) { Console.WriteLine(pair.ToString()); } } } Output 2 4 Contains dog. [Cat, 2] [Python, 4] [DOG, 6]
	Notes, usage. You can add keys with either case using the Add method. The keys retain their original case internally in the Dictionary buckets. And: When you enumerate the KeyValuePairs (in foreach), the original cases are retained. Foreach Caution: When you add the strings "Cat" and "CAT", you will get an exception. The Dictionary considers the 2 strings to be equivalent.
	Note, ContainsKey. ContainsKey (along with TryGetValue) will accept keys of either case. So "PYTHON" will return the same value as "Python".ContainsKey TryGetValue
	A discussion. Another approach you can use to normalize string data in your Dictionary is always calling ToLower on the keys and before looking up keys.ToLower File names: In Windows, file names are case-insensitive. But when users copy files, they expect them to retain their original case. Thus: This Dictionary is ideal here. It will mimic the behavior of Windows NTFS filesystems.
	A summary. We implemented a case-insensitive string Dictionary. You do not need to write your own IEqualityComparer, although if your requirements are slightly unusual you can do so.
Home Dot Net Perls	© 2007-2019 Sam Allen. All rights reserved. Written by Sam Allen, info@dotnetperls.com.