Array memory allocation in C#

Question

I was wandering which way of doing below code is better :

a)

    byte[] tmp = BitConverter.GetBytes(Number)

b) 
    byte[] tmp = new byte[sizeof(Number)]
    tmp = BitConverter.GetBytes(Number)

Is it necessary to use dynamic memory allocation ?

dcastro · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-22 08:42:10Z

4

Definitely a).

b) creates two arrays, the first of which is completely unnecessary and is thrown away right after being initialized.

answered Jul 22, 2014 at 8:42

dcastro

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Comments

Selman Genç · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-22 08:41:59Z

2

Actually second one is redundant, because GetBytes returns a new array so you are throwing away the first array you created...

answered Jul 22, 2014 at 8:41

Selman Genç

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Steve · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-22 08:42:42Z

1

The first is better for two reasons:

It is more readable
In sample b the first allocation is thrown away as tmp is re-assigned to the return value of GetBytes

answered Jul 22, 2014 at 8:42

Steve

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