compare two identical lists of strings

Question

Let's say I have following code:

    List<string> numbers = new List<string> { "1", "2" };
    List<string> numbers2 = new List<string> { "1", "2"};

    if (numbers.Equals(numbers2))
    {

    }

Like you can see I have two lists with identical items. Is there a way to check if these two lists are equal by using one method?

SOLUTION:

Use SequenceEqual()

Thanks

@Ozkan what if you had duplicates? like numbers: { 1, 1, 2} and numbers2: { 1, 2 } would you consider those equal? — Matthew Cox
– Matthew Cox, Commented Dec 14, 2011 at 16:34
@Matthew Cox, Hi, this is not considered to occur. But I found the method its SequenceEqual() — Ozkan
– Ozkan, Commented Dec 14, 2011 at 16:36
If all you want to do is "compare two identical lists of strings", then return true will do the job. It's also the fastest solution — Stack Overflow is garbage
– Stack Overflow is garbage, Commented Dec 14, 2011 at 16:40

kol · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-14 16:38:19Z

4

Use Enumerable.SequenceEqual, but Sort the lists first.

answered Dec 14, 2011 at 16:38

kol

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Comments

sll · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-14 16:34:57Z

2

// if order does not matter
bool theSame = numbers.Except(numbers2).Count() == 0;

// if order is matter
var set = new HashSet<string>(numbers);
set.SymmetricExceptWith(numbers2);
bool theSame = set.Count == 0;

answered Dec 14, 2011 at 16:34

sll

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1 Comment

Matthew Cox Over a year ago

That would be my answer. Just depends on if duplicates matter. If they do then this would return a false positive.

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