C# Sort, cannot convert lambda expression to System.Array

Question

Based on what I've found on .Sort() this should work

using System;
using System.Linq;

public class Test
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        int[] test = new int[] {6, 2, 1, 4, 9, 3, 7};
        test.Sort((a,b) => a<b);
    }
}

However, I'm getting this error message:

error CS1660: Cannot convert `lambda expression' to non-delegate type `System.Array'

That's the simplest version I could find to get that error. In my case, I'm taking a string, giving it a complex ranking value, and comparing that.

What am I missing here?

Kenneth K. · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-18 22:14:48Z

6

The overload of Sort that you are after expects a delegate that takes in two objects of the type contained within the array, and returns an int. You need to change your expression to return an int, where you return a negative value for items that come before the other, zero when the items are "equal", and a positive value for items that come after the other.

Also, for arrays the Sort method is static, so you call it using the class name, not as an instance:

Array.Sort(test, (left, right) => left.CompareTo(right));

CompareTo is a built-in function on types that are IComparable (like int), and it returns an int in the manner I described above, so it is convenient to use for sorting.

answered Apr 18, 2016 at 22:14

Kenneth K.

3,0452 gold badges26 silver badges31 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Nathan Goings Over a year ago

It would be nice if there was a better error message for when you are sorting a System.Array. Thanks so much!

Nathan Goings Over a year ago

I'd also like to add, you don't have to use CompareTo. Rolling your own works just as well.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C# Sort, cannot convert lambda expression to System.Array

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related