C# – Difference between IEnumerable Count() and Length

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What are the key differences between IEnumerable Count() and Length?

Best Answer

By calling Count on IEnumerable<T> I'm assuming you're referring to the extension method Count on System.Linq.Enumerable. Length is not a method on IEnumerable<T> but rather a property on array types in .Net such as int[].

The difference is performance. TheLength property is guaranteed to be a O(1) operation. The complexity of the Count extension method differs based on runtime type of the object. It will attempt to cast to several types which support O(1) length lookup like ICollection<T> via a Count property. If none are available then it will enumerate all items and count them which has a complexity of O(N).

For example

int[] list = CreateSomeList();
Console.WriteLine(list.Length);  // O(1)
IEnumerable<int> e1 = list;
Console.WriteLine(e1.Count()); // O(1) 
IEnumerable<int> e2 = list.Where(x => x <> 42);
Console.WriteLine(e2.Count()); // O(N)

The value e2 is implemented as a C# iterator which does not support O(1) counting and hence the method Count must enumerate the entire collection to determine how long it is.

This is the style that Microsoft tends to use in their examples.

It appears that the guidance in this area may have changed, as StyleCop now enforces the use of the C# specific aliases.

C# – the difference between const and readonly in C#

Apart from the apparent difference of

having to declare the value at the time of a definition for a const VS readonly values can be computed dynamically but need to be assigned before the constructor exits.. after that it is frozen.
const's are implicitly static. You use a ClassName.ConstantName notation to access them.

There is a subtle difference. Consider a class defined in AssemblyA.

public class Const_V_Readonly
{
  public const int I_CONST_VALUE = 2;
  public readonly int I_RO_VALUE;
  public Const_V_Readonly()
  {
     I_RO_VALUE = 3;
  }
}

AssemblyB references AssemblyA and uses these values in code. When this is compiled:

in the case of the const value, it is like a find-replace. The value 2 is 'baked into' the AssemblyB's IL. This means that if tomorrow I update I_CONST_VALUE to 20, AssemblyB would still have 2 till I recompile it.
in the case of the readonly value, it is like a ref to a memory location. The value is not baked into AssemblyB's IL. This means that if the memory location is updated, AssemblyB gets the new value without recompilation. So if I_RO_VALUE is updated to 30, you only need to build AssemblyA and all clients do not need to be recompiled.

So if you are confident that the value of the constant won't change, use a const.

public const int CM_IN_A_METER = 100;

But if you have a constant that may change (e.g. w.r.t. precision).. or when in doubt, use a readonly.

public readonly float PI = 3.14;

Update: Aku needs to get a mention because he pointed this out first. Also I need to plug where I learned this: Effective C# - Bill Wagner

Best Answer

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This is the style that Microsoft tends to use in their examples.

C# – the difference between const and readonly in C#

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