C# - Dictionary that whose value is a List of multiple Types

Question

I'm trying to make a "Block" class for a side-scrolling cave game in Unity 2D. I'm looking to have a HashMap/Dictionary whose key is and int (the block's ID) and the value is a List of multiple types, say, the block's texture (Tile), display name (string), hardness (int), or relationship with gravity (bool).

I'd like it to work like this, but I know this isn't how C# works.

Dictionary<int, List<Tile, int, string, bool>> blockProperties;

Lists in C# have to be of a single type. You either need a class with 3 properties, or a Tuple<T1, T2, T3> — ESG
– ESG, Commented Sep 25, 2019 at 18:17
You can't have a list of multiple types. You can either have a list of a common base class or common interface. — littlerufe
– littlerufe, Commented Sep 25, 2019 at 18:17

Chris Hutchinson · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-25 18:25:34Z

4

Create a data structure to contain the types:

class BlockDescriptor 
{
    public Tile Tile { get; }
    public int Hardness { get;}
    public string DisplayName { get; }
    public bool HasGravity { get; }

    public BlockDescriptor(Tile tile, int hardness, string name, bool gravity)
    {
        Tile = tile;
        Hardness = hardness;
        DisplayName = name;
        HasGravity = gravity;
    }
}

Then you can store them in a dictionary:

Dictionary<int, BlockDescriptor> blockProperties = new Dictionary<int, BlockDescriptor>();
blockProperties.Add(0, new BlockDescriptor(/* Tile */, 1, "Block A", false);
blockProperties.Add(1, new BlockDescriptor(/* Tile */, 2, "Block B", true);

Alternatively you could use a tuple:

var blockProperties = new Dictionary<int, (Tile, int, string, bool)>();
blockProperties.Add(0, (/* Tile */, 0, "Block A", false));
blockProperties.Add(1, (/* Tile */, 1, "Block B", true));

I recommend choosing a data structure, because you can implement various interfaces such as IEquatable, IEqualityComparer, to affect the behavior within LINQ queries, containers, etc. Additionally, it provides potential for various introspection properties (e.g. IsUnbreakable, HasTileWithTransparency), or methods (e.g. CalculateHardness)

edited Sep 25, 2019 at 18:25

answered Sep 25, 2019 at 18:17

Chris Hutchinson

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1 Comment

Bluperman949 Over a year ago

Thank you! I completely forgot about tuples' existence.

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