Convert array of strings to List<string>

Question

I've seen examples of this done using .ToList() on array types, this seems to be available only in .Net 3.5+. I'm working with .NET Framework 2.0 on an ASP.NET project that can't be upgraded at this time, so I was wondering: is there another solution? One that is more elegant than looping through the array and adding each element to this List (which is no problem; I'm just wondering if there is a better solution for learning purposes)?

string[] arr = { "Alpha", "Beta", "Gamma" };

List<string> openItems = new List<string>();

foreach (string arrItem in arr)
{
    openItems.Add(arrItem);
}

If I have to do it this way, is there a way to deallocate the lingering array from memory after I copy it into my list?

Don't worry about cleaning up your arr, the garbage collector will do a lot better job of that than you will. — Mike Christensen
– Mike Christensen, Commented Apr 12, 2012 at 18:20
You specifically. And me. In fact, I think only Jon Skeet is allowed to do his own garbage collection. — Mike Christensen
– Mike Christensen, Commented Apr 26, 2013 at 18:59
@MikeChristensen Couldn't resist upvoting that for the Jon Skeet comment. lol — Ctrl S
– Ctrl S, Commented Apr 5, 2019 at 14:32

Dmytro Shevchenko · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-15 20:22:17Z

503

Just use this constructor of List<T>. It accepts any IEnumerable<T> as an argument.

string[] arr = ...
List<string> list = new List<string>(arr);

edited Nov 15, 2015 at 20:22

answered Apr 12, 2012 at 18:20

Dmytro Shevchenko

34.9k6 gold badges56 silver badges68 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

andrew.fox · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-12 20:51:20Z

41

From .Net 3.5 you can use LINQ extension method that (sometimes) makes code flow a bit better.

Usage looks like this:

using System.Linq; 

// ...

public void My()
{
    var myArray = new[] { "abc", "123", "zyx" };
    List<string> myList = myArray.ToList();
}

PS. There's also ToArray() method that works in other way.

answered Dec 12, 2016 at 20:51

andrew.fox

8,0696 gold badges56 silver badges83 bronze badges

1 Comment

andrew.fox Over a year ago

@quest4truth - Visual Studio version has nothing to do with it. It will work in 2022 and VS Code as well as long as you have .NET with Linq (+ using System.Ling there.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Convert array of strings to List<string>

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related