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C# Hashtable (With Examples)

The Hashtable is a non-generic collection that stores key-value pairs like a Dictionary. It optimizes lookups by computing a hash code for each key and storing it in a bucket. Keys must be unique and cannot be null, while values can be null or duplicate. The document provides examples of creating a Hashtable, adding and updating elements, removing elements, and illustrates the Hashtable class hierarchy.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

34 views

C# Hashtable (With Examples)

Uploaded by

Jepsie Beron

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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8/27/2021 C# Hashtable (With Examples)

C# - Hashtable

The Hashtable is a non-generic collection that stores key-value pairs, similar to

generic Dictionary<TKey, TValue> collection. It optimizes lookups by computing the hash
code of each key and stores it in a different bucket internally and then matches the hash
code of the specified key at the time of accessing values.

Hashtable Characteristics
Hashtable stores key-value pairs.
Comes under System.Collection namespace.
Implements IDictionary interface.
Keys must be unique and cannot be null.
Values can be null or duplicate.
Values can be accessed by passing associated key in the indexer e.g. myHashtable[key]
Elements are stored as DictionaryEntry objects.

Creating a Hashtable

The following example demonstrates creating a Hashtable and adding elements.

Example: Create and Add Elements

Hashtable numberNames = new Hashtable();

numberNames.Add(1,"One"); //adding a key/value using the Add() method

numberNames.Add(2,"Two");

numberNames.Add(3,"Three");

//The following throws run-time exception: key already added.

//numberNames.Add(3, "Three");

foreach(DictionaryEntry de in numberNames)

Console.WriteLine("Key: {0}, Value: {1}", de.Key, de.Value);

//creating a Hashtable using collection-initializer syntax

var cities = new Hashtable(){

{"UK", "London, Manchester, Birmingham"},

{"USA", "Chicago, New York, Washington"},

{"India", "Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune"}

};

foreach(DictionaryEntry de in cities)

Console.WriteLine("Key: {0}, Value: {1}", de.Key, de.Value);

Try it

The Hashtable collection can include all the elements of Dictionary, as shown below.

https://www.tutorialsteacher.com/csharp/csharp-hashtable 1/4
8/27/2021 C# Hashtable (With Examples)

Example: Add Dictionary in Hashtable

Dictionary<int, string> dict = new Dictionary<int, string>();

dict.Add(1, "one");
dict.Add(2, "two");
dict.Add(3, "three");

Hashtable ht = new Hashtable(dict);

Try it

Update Hashtable

You can retrieve the value of an existing key from the Hashtable by passing a key in indexer.
The Hashtable is a non-generic collection, so you must type cast values while retrieving it.

Example: Update Hashtable

//creating a Hashtable using collection-initializer syntax

var cities = new Hashtable(){

{"UK", "London, Manchester, Birmingham"},

{"USA", "Chicago, New York, Washington"},

{"India", "Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune"}

};

string citiesOfUK = (string) cities["UK"]; //cast to string

string citiesOfUSA = (string) cities["USA"]; //cast to string

Console.WriteLine(citiesOfUK);

Console.WriteLine(citiesOfUSA);

cities["UK"] = "Liverpool, Bristol"; // update value of UK key

cities["USA"] = "Los Angeles, Boston"; // update value of USA key

if(!cities.ContainsKey("France")){

cities["France"] = "Paris";

Try it

https://www.tutorialsteacher.com/csharp/csharp-hashtable 2/4
8/27/2021 C# Hashtable (With Examples)

Remove Elements in Hashtable

The Remove() method removes the key-value that match with the specified in the Hashtable .
It throws the KeyNotfoundException if the specified key not found in the Hashtable, so check
for an existing key using the ContainsKey() method before removing.

Use the Clear() method to remove all the elements in one shot.