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Array Methods

Introduction to Array Methods in C#​

Arrays are fundamental types of data structures that allow us to store multiple values in a single variable. They are highly effective when dealing with a large amount of data that follows a specific pattern or type. C# provides us with a number of built-in methods to manipulate and interact with arrays. This tutorial will guide you through some commonly used methods.

Creating an Array​

Before we dive into array methods, let's quickly go over how to create an array in C#. The basic syntax is dataType[] arrayName. 

int[] numbers = new int[5]; // creates an array of integers with a length of 5

You can also assign values to the array at the time of declaration:

int[] numbers = new int[] {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; // creates an array of integers and assigns values

Length Property​

The Length property returns the total number of elements in all the dimensions of the Array.

int[] numbers = new int[] {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
Console.WriteLine(numbers.Length); // Output: 5

Sort Method​

The Array.Sort() method is used to sort the elements in an entire one-dimensional Array.

int[] numbers = new int[] {5, 3, 1, 4, 2};
Array.Sort(numbers);
foreach (int i in numbers)
{
    Console.Write(i + " "); // Output: 1 2 3 4 5
}

Reverse Method​

The Array.Reverse() method is used to reverse the sequence of the elements in the entire one-dimensional Array.

int[] numbers = new int[] {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
Array.Reverse(numbers);
foreach (int i in numbers)
{
    Console.Write(i + " "); // Output: 5 4 3 2 1
}

IndexOf Method​

The Array.IndexOf() method returns the index of the first occurrence of a value in a one-dimensional Array. The method returns -1 if the value is not found.

int[] numbers = new int[] {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
int index = Array.IndexOf(numbers, 3);
Console.WriteLine(index); // Output: 2

Copy Method​

The Array.Copy() method is used to copy elements from one array to another.

int[] source = new int[] {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
int[] destination = new int[5];
Array.Copy(source, destination, 5);
foreach (int i in destination)
{
    Console.Write(i + " "); // Output: 1 2 3 4 5
}

This was a brief introduction to some of the most commonly used Array methods in C#. With these methods, you can manipulate and interact with arrays in a number of ways. Practice using these methods to become more familiar with how arrays work in C#. Remember, the best way to learn programming is by doing. Happy coding!