CollectionBase Class

Definition

Provides the abstract base class for a strongly typed collection.

public ref class CollectionBase abstract : System::Collections::IList
public abstract class CollectionBase : System.Collections.IList
[System.Serializable]
public abstract class CollectionBase : System.Collections.IList
[System.Serializable]
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)]
public abstract class CollectionBase : System.Collections.IList
type CollectionBase = class
    interface ICollection
    interface IEnumerable
    interface IList
[<System.Serializable>]
type CollectionBase = class
    interface IList
    interface ICollection
    interface IEnumerable
[<System.Serializable>]
[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)>]
type CollectionBase = class
    interface IList
    interface ICollection
    interface IEnumerable
Public MustInherit Class CollectionBase
Implements IList
Inheritance
CollectionBase
Derived
Attributes
Implements

Examples

The following code example implements the CollectionBase class and uses that implementation to create a collection of Int16 objects.

#using <System.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections;

public ref class Int16Collection: public CollectionBase
{
public:

   property Int16 Item [int]
   {
      Int16 get( int index )
      {
         return ( (Int16)(List[ index ]));
      }

      void set( int index, Int16 value )
      {
         List[ index ] = value;
      }
   }
   int Add( Int16 value )
   {
      return (List->Add( value ));
   }

   int IndexOf( Int16 value )
   {
      return (List->IndexOf( value ));
   }

   void Insert( int index, Int16 value )
   {
      List->Insert( index, value );
   }

   void Remove( Int16 value )
   {
      List->Remove( value );
   }

   bool Contains( Int16 value )
   {
      // If value is not of type Int16, this will return false.
      return (List->Contains( value ));
   }

protected:
   virtual void OnInsert( int /*index*/, Object^ /*value*/ ) override
   {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when inserting values.
   }

   virtual void OnRemove( int /*index*/, Object^ /*value*/ ) override
   {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when removing values.
   }

   virtual void OnSet( int /*index*/, Object^ /*oldValue*/, Object^ /*newValue*/ ) override
   {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when setting values.
   }

   virtual void OnValidate( Object^ value ) override
   {
      if ( value->GetType() != Type::GetType( "System.Int16" ) )
            throw gcnew ArgumentException( "value must be of type Int16.","value" );
   }

};

void PrintIndexAndValues( Int16Collection^ myCol );
void PrintValues2( Int16Collection^ myCol );
int main()
{
   // Create and initialize a new CollectionBase.
   Int16Collection^ myI16 = gcnew Int16Collection;
   
   // Add elements to the collection.
   myI16->Add( (Int16)1 );
   myI16->Add( (Int16)2 );
   myI16->Add( (Int16)3 );
   myI16->Add( (Int16)5 );
   myI16->Add( (Int16)7 );

   // Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
   Console::WriteLine( "Contents of the collection (using enumerator):" );
   PrintValues2( myI16 );

   // Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
   Console::WriteLine( "Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):" );
   PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );

   // Search the collection with Contains and IndexOf.
   Console::WriteLine( "Contains 3: {0}", myI16->Contains( 3 ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "2 is at index {0}.", myI16->IndexOf( 2 ) );
   Console::WriteLine();

   // Insert an element into the collection at index 3.
   myI16->Insert( 3, (Int16)13 );
   Console::WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:" );
   PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );

   // Get and set an element using the index.
   myI16->Item[ 4 ] = 123;
   Console::WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:" );
   PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );

   // Remove an element from the collection.
   myI16->Remove( (Int16)2 );

   // Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
   Console::WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:" );
   PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );
}

// Uses the Count property and the Item property.
void PrintIndexAndValues( Int16Collection^ myCol )
{
   for ( int i = 0; i < myCol->Count; i++ )
      Console::WriteLine( "   [{0}]:   {1}", i, myCol->Item[ i ] );
   Console::WriteLine();
}

// Uses the enumerator. 
void PrintValues2( Int16Collection^ myCol )
{
   System::Collections::IEnumerator^ myEnumerator = myCol->GetEnumerator();
   while ( myEnumerator->MoveNext() )
      Console::WriteLine( "   {0}", myEnumerator->Current );

   Console::WriteLine();
}

/* 
This code produces the following output.

Contents of the collection (using enumerator):
   1
   2
   3
   5
   7

Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   5
   [4]:   7

Contains 3: True
2 is at index 1.

Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   13
   [4]:   5
   [5]:   7

Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   13
   [4]:   123
   [5]:   7

Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   3
   [2]:   13
   [3]:   123
   [4]:   7

*/
using System;
using System.Collections;

public class Int16Collection : CollectionBase  {

   public Int16 this[ int index ]  {
      get  {
         return( (Int16) List[index] );
      }
      set  {
         List[index] = value;
      }
   }

   public int Add( Int16 value )  {
      return( List.Add( value ) );
   }

   public int IndexOf( Int16 value )  {
      return( List.IndexOf( value ) );
   }

   public void Insert( int index, Int16 value )  {
      List.Insert( index, value );
   }

   public void Remove( Int16 value )  {
      List.Remove( value );
   }

   public bool Contains( Int16 value )  {
      // If value is not of type Int16, this will return false.
      return( List.Contains( value ) );
   }

   protected override void OnInsert( int index, Object value )  {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when inserting values.
   }

   protected override void OnRemove( int index, Object value )  {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when removing values.
   }

   protected override void OnSet( int index, Object oldValue, Object newValue )  {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when setting values.
   }

   protected override void OnValidate( Object value )  {
      if ( value.GetType() != typeof(System.Int16) )
         throw new ArgumentException( "value must be of type Int16.", "value" );
   }
}

public class SamplesCollectionBase  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Create and initialize a new CollectionBase.
      Int16Collection myI16 = new Int16Collection();

      // Add elements to the collection.
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 1 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 2 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 3 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 5 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 7 );

      // Display the contents of the collection using foreach. This is the preferred method.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection (using foreach):" );
      PrintValues1( myI16 );

      // Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection (using enumerator):" );
      PrintValues2( myI16 );

      // Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine( "Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );

      // Search the collection with Contains and IndexOf.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contains 3: {0}", myI16.Contains( 3 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "2 is at index {0}.", myI16.IndexOf( 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine();

      // Insert an element into the collection at index 3.
      myI16.Insert( 3, (Int16) 13 );
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );

      // Get and set an element using the index.
      myI16[4] = 123;
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );

      // Remove an element from the collection.
      myI16.Remove( (Int16) 2 );

      // Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );
   }

   // Uses the Count property and the Item property.
   public static void PrintIndexAndValues( Int16Collection myCol )  {
      for ( int i = 0; i < myCol.Count; i++ )
         Console.WriteLine( "   [{0}]:   {1}", i, myCol[i] );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }

   // 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 PrintValues1( Int16Collection myCol )  {
      foreach ( Int16 i16 in myCol )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0}", i16 );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }

   // Uses the enumerator.
   // NOTE: The foreach statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   public static void PrintValues2( Int16Collection myCol )  {
      System.Collections.IEnumerator myEnumerator = myCol.GetEnumerator();
      while ( myEnumerator.MoveNext() )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0}", myEnumerator.Current );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }
}


/*
This code produces the following output.

Contents of the collection (using foreach):
   1
   2
   3
   5
   7

Contents of the collection (using enumerator):
   1
   2
   3
   5
   7

Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   5
   [4]:   7

Contains 3: True
2 is at index 1.

Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   13
   [4]:   5
   [5]:   7

Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   13
   [4]:   123
   [5]:   7

Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   3
   [2]:   13
   [3]:   123
   [4]:   7

*/
Imports System.Collections


Public Class Int16Collection
   Inherits CollectionBase


   Default Public Property Item(index As Integer) As Int16
      Get
         Return CType(List(index), Int16)
      End Get
      Set
         List(index) = value
      End Set
   End Property


   Public Function Add(value As Int16) As Integer
      Return List.Add(value)
   End Function 'Add

   Public Function IndexOf(value As Int16) As Integer
      Return List.IndexOf(value)
   End Function 'IndexOf


   Public Sub Insert(index As Integer, value As Int16)
      List.Insert(index, value)
   End Sub


   Public Sub Remove(value As Int16)
      List.Remove(value)
   End Sub


   Public Function Contains(value As Int16) As Boolean
      ' If value is not of type Int16, this will return false.
      Return List.Contains(value)
   End Function 'Contains


   Protected Overrides Sub OnInsert(index As Integer, value As Object)
      ' Insert additional code to be run only when inserting values.
   End Sub


   Protected Overrides Sub OnRemove(index As Integer, value As Object)
      ' Insert additional code to be run only when removing values.
   End Sub


   Protected Overrides Sub OnSet(index As Integer, oldValue As Object, newValue As Object)
      ' Insert additional code to be run only when setting values.
   End Sub


   Protected Overrides Sub OnValidate(value As Object)
      If Not GetType(System.Int16).IsAssignableFrom(value.GetType()) Then
         Throw New ArgumentException("value must be of type Int16.", "value")
      End If
   End Sub

End Class


Public Class SamplesCollectionBase

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Creates and initializes a new CollectionBase.
      Dim myI16 As New Int16Collection()

      ' Adds elements to the collection.
      myI16.Add( 1 )
      myI16.Add( 2 )
      myI16.Add( 3 )
      myI16.Add( 5 )
      myI16.Add( 7 )

      ' Display the contents of the collection using For Each. This is the preferred method.
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection (using For Each):")
      PrintValues1(myI16)
      
      ' Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection (using enumerator):")
      PrintValues2(myI16)
      
      ' Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine("Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
      
      ' Searches the collection with Contains and IndexOf.
      Console.WriteLine("Contains 3: {0}", myI16.Contains(3))
      Console.WriteLine("2 is at index {0}.", myI16.IndexOf(2))
      Console.WriteLine()
      
      ' Inserts an element into the collection at index 3.
      myI16.Insert(3, 13)
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
      
      ' Gets and sets an element using the index.
      myI16(4) = 123
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
      
      ' Removes an element from the collection.
      myI16.Remove(2)

      ' Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)

    End Sub


    ' Uses the Count property and the Item property.
    Public Shared Sub PrintIndexAndValues(myCol As Int16Collection)
      Dim i As Integer
      For i = 0 To myCol.Count - 1
          Console.WriteLine("   [{0}]:   {1}", i, myCol(i))
      Next i
      Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub


    ' 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 PrintValues1(myCol As Int16Collection)
      Dim i16 As Int16
      For Each i16 In  myCol
          Console.WriteLine("   {0}", i16)
      Next i16
      Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub


    ' Uses the enumerator. 
    ' NOTE: The For Each statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
    Public Shared Sub PrintValues2(myCol As Int16Collection)
      Dim myEnumerator As System.Collections.IEnumerator = myCol.GetEnumerator()
      While myEnumerator.MoveNext()
          Console.WriteLine("   {0}", myEnumerator.Current)
      End While
      Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub

End Class


'This code produces the following output.
'
'Contents of the collection (using For Each):
'   1
'   2
'   3
'   5
'   7
'
'Contents of the collection (using enumerator):
'   1
'   2
'   3
'   5
'   7
'
'Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   2
'   [2]:   3
'   [3]:   5
'   [4]:   7
'
'Contains 3: True
'2 is at index 1.
'
'Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   2
'   [2]:   3
'   [3]:   13
'   [4]:   5
'   [5]:   7
'
'Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   2
'   [2]:   3
'   [3]:   13
'   [4]:   123
'   [5]:   7
'
'Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   3
'   [2]:   13
'   [3]:   123
'   [4]:   7

Remarks

Important

We don't recommend that you use the CollectionBase class for new development. Instead, we recommend that you use the generic Collection<T> class. For more information, see Non-generic collections shouldn't be used on GitHub.

A CollectionBase instance is always modifiable. See ReadOnlyCollectionBase for a read-only version of this class.

The capacity of a CollectionBase is the number of elements the CollectionBase can hold. As elements are added to a CollectionBase, the capacity is automatically increased as required through reallocation. The capacity can be decreased by setting the Capacity property explicitly.

Notes to Implementers

This base class is provided to make it easier for implementers to create a strongly typed custom collection. Implementers are encouraged to extend this base class instead of creating their own.

Constructors

CollectionBase()

Initializes a new instance of the CollectionBase class with the default initial capacity.

CollectionBase(Int32)

Initializes a new instance of the CollectionBase class with the specified capacity.

Properties

Capacity

Gets or sets the number of elements that the CollectionBase can contain.

Count

Gets the number of elements contained in the CollectionBase instance. This property cannot be overridden.

InnerList

Gets an ArrayList containing the list of elements in the CollectionBase instance.

List

Gets an IList containing the list of elements in the CollectionBase instance.

Methods

Clear()

Removes all objects from the CollectionBase instance. This method cannot be overridden.

Equals(Object)

Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object.

(Inherited from Object)
GetEnumerator()

Returns an enumerator that iterates through the CollectionBase instance.

GetHashCode()

Serves as the default hash function.

(Inherited from Object)
GetType()

Gets the Type of the current instance.

(Inherited from Object)
MemberwiseClone()

Creates a shallow copy of the current Object.

(Inherited from Object)
OnClear()

Performs additional custom processes when clearing the contents of the CollectionBase instance.

OnClearComplete()

Performs additional custom processes after clearing the contents of the CollectionBase instance.

OnInsert(Int32, Object)

Performs additional custom processes before inserting a new element into the CollectionBase instance.

OnInsertComplete(Int32, Object)

Performs additional custom processes after inserting a new element into the CollectionBase instance.

OnRemove(Int32, Object)

Performs additional custom processes when removing an element from the CollectionBase instance.

OnRemoveComplete(Int32, Object)

Performs additional custom processes after removing an element from the CollectionBase instance.

OnSet(Int32, Object, Object)

Performs additional custom processes before setting a value in the CollectionBase instance.

OnSetComplete(Int32, Object, Object)

Performs additional custom processes after setting a value in the CollectionBase instance.

OnValidate(Object)

Performs additional custom processes when validating a value.

RemoveAt(Int32)

Removes the element at the specified index of the CollectionBase instance. This method is not overridable.

ToString()

Returns a string that represents the current object.

(Inherited from Object)

Explicit Interface Implementations

ICollection.CopyTo(Array, Int32)

Copies the entire CollectionBase to a compatible one-dimensional Array, starting at the specified index of the target array.

ICollection.IsSynchronized

Gets a value indicating whether access to the CollectionBase is synchronized (thread safe).

ICollection.SyncRoot

Gets an object that can be used to synchronize access to the CollectionBase.

IList.Add(Object)

Adds an object to the end of the CollectionBase.

IList.Contains(Object)

Determines whether the CollectionBase contains a specific element.

IList.IndexOf(Object)

Searches for the specified Object and returns the zero-based index of the first occurrence within the entire CollectionBase.

IList.Insert(Int32, Object)

Inserts an element into the CollectionBase at the specified index.

IList.IsFixedSize

Gets a value indicating whether the CollectionBase has a fixed size.

IList.IsReadOnly

Gets a value indicating whether the CollectionBase is read-only.

IList.Item[Int32]

Gets or sets the element at the specified index.

IList.Remove(Object)

Removes the first occurrence of a specific object from the CollectionBase.

Extension Methods

Cast<TResult>(IEnumerable)

Casts the elements of an IEnumerable to the specified type.

OfType<TResult>(IEnumerable)

Filters the elements of an IEnumerable based on a specified type.

AsParallel(IEnumerable)

Enables parallelization of a query.

AsQueryable(IEnumerable)

Converts an IEnumerable to an IQueryable.

Applies to

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 CollectionBase, but derived classes can create their own synchronized versions of the CollectionBase 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.

See also