StringDictionary Class (System.Collections.Specialized)

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.NET Framework Class Library
StringDictionary Class

Implements a hash table with the key and the value strongly typed to be strings rather than objects.

Namespace:  System.Collections.Specialized
Assembly:  System (in System.dll)
Syntax
Visual Basic (Declaration)
<SerializableAttribute> _
Public Class StringDictionary _
	Implements IEnumerable
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As StringDictionary
C#
[SerializableAttribute]
public class StringDictionary : IEnumerable
Visual C++
[SerializableAttribute]
public ref class StringDictionary : IEnumerable
JScript
public class StringDictionary implements IEnumerable
Remarks

A key cannot be null, but a value can.

The key is handled in a case-insensitive manner; it is translated to lowercase before it is used with the string dictionary.

In .NET Framework version 1.0, this class uses culture-sensitive string comparisons. However, in .NET Framework version 1.1 and later, this class uses CultureInfo.InvariantCulture when comparing strings. For more information about how culture affects comparisons and sorting, see Comparing and Sorting Data for a Specific Culture and Performing Culture-Insensitive String Operations.

Examples

The following code example demonstrates several of the properties and methods of StringDictionary.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Collections.Specialized

Public Class SamplesStringDictionary   

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Creates and initializes a new StringDictionary.
      Dim myCol As New StringDictionary()
      myCol.Add("red", "rojo")
      myCol.Add("green", "verde")
      myCol.Add("blue", "azul")

      ' Display the contents of the collection using For Each. This is the preferred method.
      Console.WriteLine("Displays the elements using For Each:")
      PrintKeysAndValues1(myCol)

      ' Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
      Console.WriteLine("Displays the elements using the IEnumerator:")
      PrintKeysAndValues2(myCol)

      ' Display the contents of the collection using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties.
      Console.WriteLine("Displays the elements using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties:")
      PrintKeysAndValues3(myCol)

      ' Copies the StringDictionary to an array with DictionaryEntry elements.
      Dim myArr(myCol.Count) As DictionaryEntry
      myCol.CopyTo(myArr, 0)

      ' Displays the values in the array.
      Console.WriteLine("Displays the elements in the array:")
      Console.WriteLine("   KEY        VALUE")
      Dim i As Integer
      For i = 0 To myArr.Length - 1
         Console.WriteLine("   {0,-10} {1}", myArr(i).Key, myArr(i).Value)
      Next i
      Console.WriteLine()

      ' Searches for a value.
      If myCol.ContainsValue("amarillo") Then
         Console.WriteLine("The collection contains the value ""amarillo"".")
      Else
         Console.WriteLine("The collection does not contain the value ""amarillo"".")
      End If
      Console.WriteLine()

      ' Searches for a key and deletes it.
      If myCol.ContainsKey("green") Then
         myCol.Remove("green")
      End If
      Console.WriteLine("The collection contains the following elements after removing ""green"":")
      PrintKeysAndValues1(myCol)

      ' Clears the entire collection.
      myCol.Clear()
      Console.WriteLine("The collection contains the following elements after it is cleared:")
      PrintKeysAndValues1(myCol)

   End Sub 'Main


   ' Uses the For Each statement which hides the complexity of the enumerator.
   ' NOTE: The For Each statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   Public Shared Sub PrintKeysAndValues1(myCol As StringDictionary)
      Console.WriteLine("   KEY                       VALUE")
      Dim de As DictionaryEntry
      For Each de In  myCol
         Console.WriteLine("   {0,-25} {1}", de.Key, de.Value)
      Next de
      Console.WriteLine()
   End Sub 'PrintKeysAndValues1


   ' Uses the enumerator. 
   ' NOTE: The For Each statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   Public Shared Sub PrintKeysAndValues2(myCol As StringDictionary)
      Dim myEnumerator As IEnumerator = myCol.GetEnumerator()
      Dim de As DictionaryEntry
      Console.WriteLine("   KEY                       VALUE")
      While myEnumerator.MoveNext()
         de = CType(myEnumerator.Current, DictionaryEntry)
         Console.WriteLine("   {0,-25} {1}", de.Key, de.Value)
      End While
      Console.WriteLine()
   End Sub 'PrintKeysAndValues2


   ' Uses the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties.
   Public Shared Sub PrintKeysAndValues3(myCol As StringDictionary)
      Dim myKeys(myCol.Count) As String
      myCol.Keys.CopyTo(myKeys, 0)

      Console.WriteLine("   INDEX KEY                       VALUE")
      Dim i As Integer
      For i = 0 To myCol.Count - 1
         Console.WriteLine("   {0,-5} {1,-25} {2}", i, myKeys(i), myCol(myKeys(i)))
      Next i
      Console.WriteLine()
   End Sub 'PrintKeysAndValues3

End Class 'SamplesStringDictionary 


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Displays the elements using For Each:
'   KEY                       VALUE
'   red                       rojo
'   blue                      azul
'   green                     verde
'
'Displays the elements using the IEnumerator:
'   KEY                       VALUE
'   red                       rojo
'   blue                      azul
'   green                     verde
'
'Displays the elements using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties:
'   INDEX KEY                       VALUE
'   0     red                       rojo
'   1     blue                      azul
'   2     green                     verde
'
'Displays the elements in the array:
'   KEY        VALUE
'   red        rojo
'   blue       azul
'   green      verde
'
'
'The collection does not contain the value "amarillo".
'
'The collection contains the following elements after removing "green":
'   KEY                       VALUE
'   red                       rojo
'   blue                      azul
'
'The collection contains the following elements after it is cleared:
'   KEY                       VALUE
C#
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Specialized;

public class SamplesStringDictionary  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Creates and initializes a new StringDictionary.
      StringDictionary myCol = new StringDictionary();
      myCol.Add( "red", "rojo" );
      myCol.Add( "green", "verde" );
      myCol.Add( "blue", "azul" );

      // Display the contents of the collection using foreach. This is the preferred method.
      Console.WriteLine( "Displays the elements using foreach:" );
      PrintKeysAndValues1( myCol );

      // Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
      Console.WriteLine( "Displays the elements using the IEnumerator:" );
      PrintKeysAndValues2( myCol );

      // Display the contents of the collection using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties.
      Console.WriteLine( "Displays the elements using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties:" );
      PrintKeysAndValues3( myCol );

      // Copies the StringDictionary to an array with DictionaryEntry elements.
      DictionaryEntry[] myArr = new DictionaryEntry[myCol.Count];
      myCol.CopyTo( myArr, 0 );

      // Displays the values in the array.
      Console.WriteLine( "Displays the elements in the array:" );
      Console.WriteLine( "   KEY        VALUE" );
      for ( int i = 0; i < myArr.Length; i++ )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0,-10} {1}", myArr[i].Key, myArr[i].Value );
      Console.WriteLine();

      // Searches for a value.
      if ( myCol.ContainsValue( "amarillo" ) )
         Console.WriteLine( "The collection contains the value \"amarillo\"." );
      else
         Console.WriteLine( "The collection does not contain the value \"amarillo\"." );
      Console.WriteLine();

      // Searches for a key and deletes it.
      if ( myCol.ContainsKey( "green" ) )
         myCol.Remove( "green" );
      Console.WriteLine( "The collection contains the following elements after removing \"green\":" );
      PrintKeysAndValues1( myCol );

      // Clears the entire collection.
      myCol.Clear();
      Console.WriteLine( "The collection contains the following elements after it is cleared:" );
      PrintKeysAndValues1( myCol );

   }

   // Uses the foreach statement which hides the complexity of the enumerator.
   // NOTE: The foreach statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   public static void PrintKeysAndValues1( StringDictionary myCol )  {
      Console.WriteLine( "   KEY                       VALUE" );
      foreach ( DictionaryEntry de in myCol )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0,-25} {1}", de.Key, de.Value );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }

   // Uses the enumerator. 
   // NOTE: The foreach statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   public static void PrintKeysAndValues2( StringDictionary myCol )  {
      IEnumerator myEnumerator = myCol.GetEnumerator();
      DictionaryEntry de;
      Console.WriteLine( "   KEY                       VALUE" );
      while ( myEnumerator.MoveNext() )  {
         de = (DictionaryEntry) myEnumerator.Current;
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0,-25} {1}", de.Key, de.Value );
      }
      Console.WriteLine();
   }

   // Uses the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties.
   public static void PrintKeysAndValues3( StringDictionary myCol )  {
      String[] myKeys = new String[myCol.Count];
      myCol.Keys.CopyTo( myKeys, 0 );

      Console.WriteLine( "   INDEX KEY                       VALUE" );
      for ( int i = 0; i < myCol.Count; i++ )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0,-5} {1,-25} {2}", i, myKeys[i], myCol[myKeys[i]] );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }

}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Displays the elements using foreach:
   KEY                       VALUE
   red                       rojo
   blue                      azul
   green                     verde

Displays the elements using the IEnumerator:
   KEY                       VALUE
   red                       rojo
   blue                      azul
   green                     verde

Displays the elements using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties:
   INDEX KEY                       VALUE
   0     red                       rojo
   1     blue                      azul
   2     green                     verde

Displays the elements in the array:
   KEY        VALUE
   red        rojo
   blue       azul
   green      verde

The collection does not contain the value "amarillo".

The collection contains the following elements after removing "green":
   KEY                       VALUE
   red                       rojo
   blue                      azul

The collection contains the following elements after it is cleared:
   KEY                       VALUE

*/
Visual C++
#using <System.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections;
using namespace System::Collections::Specialized;
void PrintKeysAndValues2( StringDictionary^ myCol );
void PrintKeysAndValues3( StringDictionary^ myCol );

int main()
{
   // Creates and initializes a new StringDictionary.
   StringDictionary^ myCol = gcnew StringDictionary;
   myCol->Add( "red", "rojo" );
   myCol->Add( "green", "verde" );
   myCol->Add( "blue", "azul" );

   // Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
   Console::WriteLine( "Displays the elements using the IEnumerator:" );
   PrintKeysAndValues2( myCol );

   // Display the contents of the collection using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties.
   Console::WriteLine( "Displays the elements using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties:" );
   PrintKeysAndValues3( myCol );

   // Copies the StringDictionary to an array with DictionaryEntry elements.
   array<DictionaryEntry>^myArr = gcnew array<DictionaryEntry>(myCol->Count);
   myCol->CopyTo( myArr, 0 );

   // Displays the values in the array.
   Console::WriteLine( "Displays the elements in the array:" );
   Console::WriteLine( "   KEY        VALUE" );
   for ( int i = 0; i < myArr->Length; i++ )
      Console::WriteLine( "   {0,-10} {1}", myArr[ i ].Key, myArr[ i ].Value );
   Console::WriteLine();

   // Searches for a value.
   if ( myCol->ContainsValue( "amarillo" ) )
      Console::WriteLine( "The collection contains the value \"amarillo\"." );
   else
      Console::WriteLine( "The collection does not contain the value \"amarillo\"." );

   Console::WriteLine();

   // Searches for a key and deletes it.
   if ( myCol->ContainsKey( "green" ) )
      myCol->Remove( "green" );

   Console::WriteLine( "The collection contains the following elements after removing \"green\":" );
   PrintKeysAndValues2( myCol );

   // Clears the entire collection.
   myCol->Clear();
   Console::WriteLine( "The collection contains the following elements after it is cleared:" );
   PrintKeysAndValues2( myCol );
}

// Uses the enumerator. 
void PrintKeysAndValues2( StringDictionary^ myCol )
{
   IEnumerator^ myEnumerator = myCol->GetEnumerator();
   DictionaryEntry de;
   Console::WriteLine( "   KEY                       VALUE" );
   while ( myEnumerator->MoveNext() )
   {
      de =  *dynamic_cast<DictionaryEntry^>(myEnumerator->Current);
      Console::WriteLine( "   {0,-25} {1}", de.Key, de.Value );
   }

   Console::WriteLine();
}

// Uses the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties.
void PrintKeysAndValues3( StringDictionary^ myCol )
{
   array<String^>^myKeys = gcnew array<String^>(myCol->Count);
   myCol->Keys->CopyTo( myKeys, 0 );
   Console::WriteLine( "   INDEX KEY                       VALUE" );
   for ( int i = 0; i < myCol->Count; i++ )
      Console::WriteLine( "   {0,-5} {1,-25} {2}", i, myKeys[ i ], myCol[ myKeys[ i ] ] );
   Console::WriteLine();
}

/*
This code produces the following output.

Displays the elements using the IEnumerator:
   KEY                       VALUE
   red                       rojo
   blue                      azul
   green                     verde

Displays the elements using the Keys, Values, Count, and Item properties:
   INDEX KEY                       VALUE
   0     red                       rojo
   1     blue                      azul
   2     green                     verde

Displays the elements in the array:
   KEY        VALUE
   red        rojo
   blue       azul
   green      verde

The collection does not contain the value "amarillo".

The collection contains the following elements after removing "green":
   KEY                       VALUE
   red                       rojo
   blue                      azul

The collection contains the following elements after it is cleared:
   KEY                       VALUE

*/
Inheritance Hierarchy
System.Object
  System.Collections.Specialized.StringDictionary
Thread Safety

Public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

This implementation does not provide a synchronized (thread safe) wrapper for a StringDictionary, but derived classes can create their own synchronized versions of the StringDictionary using the SyncRoot property.

Enumerating through a collection is intrinsically not a thread-safe procedure. Even when a collection is synchronized, other threads can still modify the collection, which causes the enumerator to throw an exception. To guarantee thread safety during enumeration, you can either lock the collection during the entire enumeration or catch the exceptions resulting from changes made by other threads.

Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.0
See Also

Reference

StringDictionary Members
System.Collections.Specialized Namespace
Hashtable

Other Resources

Performing Culture-Insensitive String Operations
Community Content

David M. Kean
Use Dictionary<TKey, TValue> instead

Although this class does a culture-insensitive, case-insensitive comparison, it does so by calling String.ToLower(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) on the key and storing the result. This is in contrast to the way that Windows stores case-insensitive identifiers, such as file paths, registry keys and values and environments variables, which uses String.ToUpper(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture).

Instead of this class, consider using the Dictionary<TKey, TValue> class, passing StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase to its constructor.

For more information on the correct way to compare strings, see the following article:

New Recommendations for Using Strings in Microsoft .NET 2.0
 http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms973919.aspx