C# Array Slice, Get Elements Between Indexes

Implement a Slice extension method on the Array type. Slice gets array elements between 2 indexes.

Array slice. A slice of an array is a range of elements. By using extension methods and generics, we simplify and clarify array slices. This makes for more reusable and powerful code. We write and test an array slice method.Array

To start, here we see a generic method, which is simply a C# method that can receive and return parameters of any type. Our Slice method here uses this ability to simulate the built-in slice functionality of Python and other languages.

Main: We see the new Slice extension method used. We are using an int array with seven values in it.

Slice 1: The first slice we take extracts the elements between 0 and 1, the first int.

Extensions: This class contains a public static method called Slice. It is an extension method, which means it uses "this" in its first parameter.

Extension

Also: The other confusing part is the use of the letter T. The Type T is replaced by the C# compiler with any type you specify.

C# program that slices array using System; using System.Collections.Generic; class Program { static void Main() { int[] a = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 }; foreach (int i in a.Slice(0, 1)) { Console.WriteLine(i); } Console.WriteLine(); foreach (int i in a.Slice(0, 2)) { Console.WriteLine(i); } Console.WriteLine(); foreach (int i in a.Slice(2, 5)) { Console.WriteLine(i); } Console.WriteLine(); foreach (int i in a.Slice(2, -3)) { Console.WriteLine(i); } } } public static class Extensions { /// <summary> /// Get the array slice between the two indexes. /// ... Inclusive for start index, exclusive for end index. /// </summary> public static T[] Slice<T>(this T[] source, int start, int end) { // Handles negative ends. if (end < 0) { end = source.Length + end; } int len = end - start; // Return new array. T[] res = new T[len]; for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) { res[i] = source[i + start]; } return res; } } Output 1 1 2 3 4 5 3 4

Notes, generics. When the letter T (or letters such as V and C) appears in brackets after a method name, you are using a generic method. The letter T is replaced with the type specified at the call site.Generic Class, Method

Discussion. How is this method different from LINQ Take and Skip? First, it can deal with negative parameters as does JavaScript and Python. Second, it may be faster before it doesn't use IEnumerable, which has a performance penalty.Take, TakeWhile Skip, SkipWhile

The implementation of the Slice method here had a serious bug that caused negative end parameters to be incorrectly handled. James Kolpack wrote in with a correction of the end computation and I added a test for that case.

Note: The Dev Codes thanks James and all contributors who notice errors on this site.

Strings: In my development efforts, I have also used string slice methods, which are proven equivalent in the main aspects to JavaScript.

String Slice

Summary. Here we saw a generic array slice method that is also an extension method, combining several concepts from newer versions of the C# language. This is a rare case where an extension method is appropriate.

Info: The method's logic is equivalent to the string Slice method linked above, which I prove equivalent to the one in JavaScript.

The Dev Codes

.Net

.NET Array Dictionary List String 2D Async DataTable Dates DateTime Enum File For Foreach Format IEnumerable If IndexOf Lambda LINQ Parse Path Process Property Regex Replace Sort Split Static StringBuilder Substring Switch Tuple

Java

Core Array ArrayList HashMap String 2D Cast Character Console Deque Duplicates File For Format HashSet If IndexOf Lambda Math ParseInt Process Random Regex Replace Sort Split StringBuilder Substring Switch Vector While

TheDeveloperBlog.com

C# Array Slice, Get Elements Between Indexes

Related Links:

.Net

Java

Related Links