Comments on: Do Not Return Private C# Arrays http://www.csharp411.com/do-not-return-private-c-arrays/ C# Development Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:14:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Steve http://www.csharp411.com/do-not-return-private-c-arrays/#comment-701 Steve Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:29:31 +0000 http://www.csharp411.com/do-not-return-private-c-arrays/#comment-701 System.Collections.ObjectModel.ReadOnlyCollection(Of T) is the class for this purpose. Has array-like semantics (including random access by this[int index]). Don't leave home without it :) System.Collections.ObjectModel.ReadOnlyCollection(Of T) is the class for this purpose. Has array-like semantics (including random access by this[int index]).

Don’t leave home without it :)

]]> By: ShaharY http://www.csharp411.com/do-not-return-private-c-arrays/#comment-700 ShaharY Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:22:21 +0000 http://www.csharp411.com/do-not-return-private-c-arrays/#comment-700 I like that but deep clone can be expensive. You can also use List which has a AsReadOnly() method, both methods enforces readonly on runtime. You can also expose your collection as IEnumerable and enforce readonly at compiletime (although I don't like dealing with IEnumerable, it has a very poor API). You can read more about those issues here: http://www.dev102.com/2008/04/10/how-to-expose-your-collections-safely/ I like that but deep clone can be expensive.
You can also use List which has a AsReadOnly() method, both methods enforces readonly on runtime.
You can also expose your collection as IEnumerable and enforce readonly at compiletime (although I don’t like dealing with IEnumerable, it has a very poor API). You can read more about those issues here: http://www.dev102.com/2008/04/10/how-to-expose-your-collections-safely/

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