CollectionBase Class 
Definition
Important
Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
Provides the abstract base class for a strongly typed collection.
public ref class CollectionBase abstract : System::Collections::IListpublic abstract class CollectionBase : System.Collections.IList[System.Serializable]
public abstract class CollectionBase : System.Collections.IList[System.Serializable]
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)]
public abstract class CollectionBase : System.Collections.IListtype CollectionBase = class
    interface ICollection
    interface IEnumerable
    interface IList[<System.Serializable>]
type CollectionBase = class
    interface IList
    interface ICollection
    interface IEnumerable[<System.Serializable>]
[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)>]
type CollectionBase = class
    interface IList
    interface ICollection
    interface IEnumerablePublic MustInherit Class CollectionBase
Implements IList- Inheritance
- 
				CollectionBase
- Derived
- Attributes
- Implements
Examples
The following code example implements the CollectionBase class and uses that implementation to create a collection of Int16 objects.
using System;
using System.Collections;
public class Int16Collection : CollectionBase  {
   public Int16 this[ int index ]  {
      get  {
         return( (Int16) List[index] );
      }
      set  {
         List[index] = value;
      }
   }
   public int Add( Int16 value )  {
      return( List.Add( value ) );
   }
   public int IndexOf( Int16 value )  {
      return( List.IndexOf( value ) );
   }
   public void Insert( int index, Int16 value )  {
      List.Insert( index, value );
   }
   public void Remove( Int16 value )  {
      List.Remove( value );
   }
   public bool Contains( Int16 value )  {
      // If value is not of type Int16, this will return false.
      return( List.Contains( value ) );
   }
   protected override void OnInsert( int index, Object value )  {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when inserting values.
   }
   protected override void OnRemove( int index, Object value )  {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when removing values.
   }
   protected override void OnSet( int index, Object oldValue, Object newValue )  {
      // Insert additional code to be run only when setting values.
   }
   protected override void OnValidate( Object value )  {
      if ( value.GetType() != typeof(System.Int16) )
         throw new ArgumentException( "value must be of type Int16.", "value" );
   }
}
public class SamplesCollectionBase  {
   public static void Main()  {
      // Create and initialize a new CollectionBase.
      Int16Collection myI16 = new Int16Collection();
      // Add elements to the collection.
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 1 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 2 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 3 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 5 );
      myI16.Add( (Int16) 7 );
      // Display the contents of the collection using foreach. This is the preferred method.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection (using foreach):" );
      PrintValues1( myI16 );
      // Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection (using enumerator):" );
      PrintValues2( myI16 );
      // Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine( "Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );
      // Search the collection with Contains and IndexOf.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contains 3: {0}", myI16.Contains( 3 ) );
      Console.WriteLine( "2 is at index {0}.", myI16.IndexOf( 2 ) );
      Console.WriteLine();
      // Insert an element into the collection at index 3.
      myI16.Insert( 3, (Int16) 13 );
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );
      // Get and set an element using the index.
      myI16[4] = 123;
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );
      // Remove an element from the collection.
      myI16.Remove( (Int16) 2 );
      // Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine( "Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:" );
      PrintIndexAndValues( myI16 );
   }
   // Uses the Count property and the Item property.
   public static void PrintIndexAndValues( Int16Collection myCol )  {
      for ( int i = 0; i < myCol.Count; i++ )
         Console.WriteLine( "   [{0}]:   {1}", i, myCol[i] );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }
   // Uses the foreach statement which hides the complexity of the enumerator.
   // NOTE: The foreach statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   public static void PrintValues1( Int16Collection myCol )  {
      foreach ( Int16 i16 in myCol )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0}", i16 );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }
   // Uses the enumerator.
   // NOTE: The foreach statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
   public static void PrintValues2( Int16Collection myCol )  {
      System.Collections.IEnumerator myEnumerator = myCol.GetEnumerator();
      while ( myEnumerator.MoveNext() )
         Console.WriteLine( "   {0}", myEnumerator.Current );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }
}
/*
This code produces the following output.
Contents of the collection (using foreach):
   1
   2
   3
   5
   7
Contents of the collection (using enumerator):
   1
   2
   3
   5
   7
Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   5
   [4]:   7
Contains 3: True
2 is at index 1.
Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   13
   [4]:   5
   [5]:   7
Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   2
   [2]:   3
   [3]:   13
   [4]:   123
   [5]:   7
Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:
   [0]:   1
   [1]:   3
   [2]:   13
   [3]:   123
   [4]:   7
*/
Imports System.Collections
Public Class Int16Collection
   Inherits CollectionBase
   Default Public Property Item(index As Integer) As Int16
      Get
         Return CType(List(index), Int16)
      End Get
      Set
         List(index) = value
      End Set
   End Property
   Public Function Add(value As Int16) As Integer
      Return List.Add(value)
   End Function 'Add
   Public Function IndexOf(value As Int16) As Integer
      Return List.IndexOf(value)
   End Function 'IndexOf
   Public Sub Insert(index As Integer, value As Int16)
      List.Insert(index, value)
   End Sub
   Public Sub Remove(value As Int16)
      List.Remove(value)
   End Sub
   Public Function Contains(value As Int16) As Boolean
      ' If value is not of type Int16, this will return false.
      Return List.Contains(value)
   End Function 'Contains
   Protected Overrides Sub OnInsert(index As Integer, value As Object)
      ' Insert additional code to be run only when inserting values.
   End Sub
   Protected Overrides Sub OnRemove(index As Integer, value As Object)
      ' Insert additional code to be run only when removing values.
   End Sub
   Protected Overrides Sub OnSet(index As Integer, oldValue As Object, newValue As Object)
      ' Insert additional code to be run only when setting values.
   End Sub
   Protected Overrides Sub OnValidate(value As Object)
      If Not GetType(System.Int16).IsAssignableFrom(value.GetType()) Then
         Throw New ArgumentException("value must be of type Int16.", "value")
      End If
   End Sub
End Class
Public Class SamplesCollectionBase
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      ' Creates and initializes a new CollectionBase.
      Dim myI16 As New Int16Collection()
      ' Adds elements to the collection.
      myI16.Add( 1 )
      myI16.Add( 2 )
      myI16.Add( 3 )
      myI16.Add( 5 )
      myI16.Add( 7 )
      ' Display the contents of the collection using For Each. This is the preferred method.
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection (using For Each):")
      PrintValues1(myI16)
      
      ' Display the contents of the collection using the enumerator.
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection (using enumerator):")
      PrintValues2(myI16)
      
      ' Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine("Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
      
      ' Searches the collection with Contains and IndexOf.
      Console.WriteLine("Contains 3: {0}", myI16.Contains(3))
      Console.WriteLine("2 is at index {0}.", myI16.IndexOf(2))
      Console.WriteLine()
      
      ' Inserts an element into the collection at index 3.
      myI16.Insert(3, 13)
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
      
      ' Gets and sets an element using the index.
      myI16(4) = 123
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
      
      ' Removes an element from the collection.
      myI16.Remove(2)
      ' Display the contents of the collection using the Count property and the Item property.
      Console.WriteLine("Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:")
      PrintIndexAndValues(myI16)
    End Sub
    ' Uses the Count property and the Item property.
    Public Shared Sub PrintIndexAndValues(myCol As Int16Collection)
      Dim i As Integer
      For i = 0 To myCol.Count - 1
          Console.WriteLine("   [{0}]:   {1}", i, myCol(i))
      Next i
      Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub
    ' Uses the For Each statement which hides the complexity of the enumerator.
    ' NOTE: The For Each statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
    Public Shared Sub PrintValues1(myCol As Int16Collection)
      Dim i16 As Int16
      For Each i16 In  myCol
          Console.WriteLine("   {0}", i16)
      Next i16
      Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub
    ' Uses the enumerator. 
    ' NOTE: The For Each statement is the preferred way of enumerating the contents of a collection.
    Public Shared Sub PrintValues2(myCol As Int16Collection)
      Dim myEnumerator As System.Collections.IEnumerator = myCol.GetEnumerator()
      While myEnumerator.MoveNext()
          Console.WriteLine("   {0}", myEnumerator.Current)
      End While
      Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub
End Class
'This code produces the following output.
'
'Contents of the collection (using For Each):
'   1
'   2
'   3
'   5
'   7
'
'Contents of the collection (using enumerator):
'   1
'   2
'   3
'   5
'   7
'
'Initial contents of the collection (using Count and Item):
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   2
'   [2]:   3
'   [3]:   5
'   [4]:   7
'
'Contains 3: True
'2 is at index 1.
'
'Contents of the collection after inserting at index 3:
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   2
'   [2]:   3
'   [3]:   13
'   [4]:   5
'   [5]:   7
'
'Contents of the collection after setting the element at index 4 to 123:
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   2
'   [2]:   3
'   [3]:   13
'   [4]:   123
'   [5]:   7
'
'Contents of the collection after removing the element 2:
'   [0]:   1
'   [1]:   3
'   [2]:   13
'   [3]:   123
'   [4]:   7
Remarks
Important
We don't recommend that you use the CollectionBase class for new development. Instead, we recommend that you use the generic Collection<T> class. For more information, see Non-generic collections shouldn't be used on GitHub.
A CollectionBase instance is always modifiable. See ReadOnlyCollectionBase for a read-only version of this class.
The capacity of a CollectionBase is the number of elements the CollectionBase can hold. As elements are added to a CollectionBase, the capacity is automatically increased as required through reallocation. The capacity can be decreased by setting the Capacity property explicitly.
Notes to Implementers
This base class is provided to make it easier for implementers to create a strongly typed custom collection. Implementers are encouraged to extend this base class instead of creating their own.
Constructors
| CollectionBase() | Initializes a new instance of the CollectionBase class with the default initial capacity. | 
| CollectionBase(Int32) | Initializes a new instance of the CollectionBase class with the specified capacity. | 
Properties
| Capacity | Gets or sets the number of elements that the CollectionBase can contain. | 
| Count | Gets the number of elements contained in the CollectionBase instance. This property cannot be overridden. | 
| InnerList | Gets an ArrayList containing the list of elements in the CollectionBase instance. | 
| List | Gets an IList containing the list of elements in the CollectionBase instance. | 
Methods
| Clear() | Removes all objects from the CollectionBase instance. This method cannot be overridden. | 
| Equals(Object) | Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object.(Inherited from Object) | 
| GetEnumerator() | Returns an enumerator that iterates through the CollectionBase instance. | 
| GetHashCode() | Serves as the default hash function.(Inherited from Object) | 
| GetType() | Gets the Type of the current instance.(Inherited from Object) | 
| MemberwiseClone() | Creates a shallow copy of the current Object.(Inherited from Object) | 
| OnClear() | Performs additional custom processes when clearing the contents of the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnClearComplete() | Performs additional custom processes after clearing the contents of the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnInsert(Int32, Object) | Performs additional custom processes before inserting a new element into the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnInsertComplete(Int32, Object) | Performs additional custom processes after inserting a new element into the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnRemove(Int32, Object) | Performs additional custom processes when removing an element from the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnRemoveComplete(Int32, Object) | Performs additional custom processes after removing an element from the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnSet(Int32, Object, Object) | Performs additional custom processes before setting a value in the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnSetComplete(Int32, Object, Object) | Performs additional custom processes after setting a value in the CollectionBase instance. | 
| OnValidate(Object) | Performs additional custom processes when validating a value. | 
| RemoveAt(Int32) | Removes the element at the specified index of the CollectionBase instance. This method is not overridable. | 
| ToString() | Returns a string that represents the current object.(Inherited from Object) | 
Explicit Interface Implementations
| ICollection.CopyTo(Array, Int32) | Copies the entire CollectionBase to a compatible one-dimensional Array, starting at the specified index of the target array. | 
| ICollection.IsSynchronized | Gets a value indicating whether access to the CollectionBase is synchronized (thread safe). | 
| ICollection.SyncRoot | Gets an object that can be used to synchronize access to the CollectionBase. | 
| IList.Add(Object) | Adds an object to the end of the CollectionBase. | 
| IList.Contains(Object) | Determines whether the CollectionBase contains a specific element. | 
| IList.IndexOf(Object) | Searches for the specified Object and returns the zero-based index of the first occurrence within the entire CollectionBase. | 
| IList.Insert(Int32, Object) | Inserts an element into the CollectionBase at the specified index. | 
| IList.IsFixedSize | Gets a value indicating whether the CollectionBase has a fixed size. | 
| IList.IsReadOnly | Gets a value indicating whether the CollectionBase is read-only. | 
| IList.Item[Int32] | Gets or sets the element at the specified index. | 
| IList.Remove(Object) | Removes the first occurrence of a specific object from the CollectionBase. | 
Extension Methods
| Cast<TResult>(IEnumerable) | Casts the elements of an IEnumerable to the specified type. | 
| OfType<TResult>(IEnumerable) | Filters the elements of an IEnumerable based on a specified type. | 
| AsParallel(IEnumerable) | Enables parallelization of a query. | 
| AsQueryable(IEnumerable) | Converts an IEnumerable to an IQueryable. | 
Applies to
Thread Safety
Public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.
This implementation does not provide a synchronized (thread safe) wrapper for a CollectionBase, but derived classes can create their own synchronized versions of the CollectionBase using the SyncRoot property.
Enumerating through a collection is intrinsically not a thread safe procedure. Even when a collection is synchronized, other threads can still modify the collection, which causes the enumerator to throw an exception. To guarantee thread safety during enumeration, you can either lock the collection during the entire enumeration or catch the exceptions resulting from changes made by other threads.