C#•10mo ago

what is the difference between arrays,vectors and lists?

and what are the different use cases

14 Replies

generally arrays are fixed in size, cannot be grown or shrunk list and vector are resizable, and are usually the same thing conceptually some languages like Rust and C++ use the term Vector, others like Java, Python, C# use the term List

HD-Fr0sTOP•10mo ago

cant arrays be set in variable size?

jcotton42•10mo ago

well, are you talking about arrays in .NET specifically, or arrays in general?

HD-Fr0sTOP•10mo ago

in general

jcotton42•10mo ago

also what do you mean "variable size"? like you can do new int[mySize]; but the array will always be mySize in length, can't be grown later

HD-Fr0sTOP•10mo ago

yep

jcotton42•10mo ago

yeah that's just fine

HD-Fr0sTOP•10mo ago

are list and vector mutable/dynamic?

jcotton42•10mo ago

var i = 3;
var array = new int[i];
var list = new List<int>(i);
array.Add(83); // not valid
list.Add(38); // valid, list now has a length of 4

var i = 3;
var array = new int[i];
var list = new List<int>(i);
array.Add(83); // not valid
list.Add(38); // valid, list now has a length of 4

Jimmacle•10mo ago

they're all mutable, as far as C# is concerned the difference between an array and list is a list dynamically resizes to hold more items there's no collection in C# called a vector

333fred•10mo ago

There kind of is, but it refers to the mathematical term "vector", not what C++ or Rust mean by the word Isn't English fun?

Thinker•10mo ago

~~vector (game dev) != vector (computing) != vector (data structures)~~

HD-Fr0sTOP•10mo ago

Like the 2d matrix stuff?

333fred•10mo ago

Yes

Gaming

Programming

what is the difference between arrays,vectors and lists?