List<T>.Capacity Property
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Gets or sets the total number of elements the internal data structure can hold without resizing.
public:
property int Capacity { int get(); void set(int value); };
public int Capacity { get; set; }
member this.Capacity : int with get, set
Public Property Capacity As Integer
The number of elements that the List<T> can contain before resizing is required.
There is not enough memory available on the system.
The following example demonstrates how to check the capacity and count of a List<T> that contains a simple business object, and illustrates using the TrimExcess method to remove extra capacity.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
// Simple business object. A PartId is used to identify a part
// but the part name be different for the same Id.
public class Part : IEquatable<Part>
{
public string PartName { get; set; }
public int PartId { get; set; }
public override string ToString()
{
return "ID: " + PartId + " Name: " + PartName;
}
public override bool Equals(object obj)
{
if (obj == null) return false;
Part objAsPart = obj as Part;
if (objAsPart == null) return false;
else return Equals(objAsPart);
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
return base.GetHashCode();
}
public bool Equals(Part other)
{
if (other == null) return false;
return (this.PartId.Equals(other.PartId));
}
// Should also override == and != operators.
}
public class Example
{
public static void Main()
{
List<Part> parts = new List<Part>();
Console.WriteLine("\nCapacity: {0}", parts.Capacity);
parts.Add(new Part() { PartName = "crank arm", PartId = 1234 });
parts.Add(new Part() { PartName = "chain ring", PartId = 1334 });
parts.Add(new Part() { PartName = "seat", PartId = 1434 });
parts.Add(new Part() { PartName = "cassette", PartId = 1534 });
parts.Add(new Part() { PartName = "shift lever", PartId = 1634 }); ;
Console.WriteLine();
foreach (Part aPart in parts)
{
Console.WriteLine(aPart);
}
Console.WriteLine("\nCapacity: {0}", parts.Capacity);
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", parts.Count);
parts.TrimExcess();
Console.WriteLine("\nTrimExcess()");
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", parts.Capacity);
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", parts.Count);
parts.Clear();
Console.WriteLine("\nClear()");
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", parts.Capacity);
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", parts.Count);
}
/*
This code example produces the following output.
Capacity: 0
ID: 1234 Name: crank arm
ID: 1334 Name: chain ring
ID: 1434 Name: seat
ID: 1534 Name: cassette
ID: 1634 Name: shift lever
Capacity: 8
Count: 5
TrimExcess()
Capacity: 5
Count: 5
Clear()
Capacity: 5
Count: 0
*/
}
Imports System.Collections.Generic
' Simple business object. A PartId is used to identify a part
' but the part name can change.
Public Class Part
Implements IEquatable(Of Part)
Public Property PartName() As String
Get
Return m_PartName
End Get
Set(value As String)
m_PartName = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_PartName As String
Public Property PartId() As Integer
Get
Return m_PartId
End Get
Set(value As Integer)
m_PartId = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_PartId As Integer
Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
Return "ID: " & PartId & " Name: " & PartName
End Function
Public Overrides Function Equals(obj As Object) As Boolean
If obj Is Nothing Then
Return False
End If
Dim objAsPart As Part = TryCast(obj, Part)
If objAsPart Is Nothing Then
Return False
Else
Return Equals(objAsPart)
End If
End Function
Public Overrides Function GetHashCode() As Integer
Return MyBase.GetHashCode()
End Function
Public Overloads Function Equals(other As Part) As Boolean Implements IEquatable(Of Part).Equals
If other Is Nothing Then
Return False
End If
Return (Me.PartId.Equals(other.PartId))
End Function
' Should also override == and != operators.
End Class
Public Class Example
Public Shared Sub Main()
Dim parts As New List(Of Part)()
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Capacity: {0}", parts.Capacity)
' Add parts to the list.
parts.Add(New Part() With { _
.PartName = "crank arm", _
.PartId = 1234 _
})
parts.Add(New Part() With { _
.PartName = "chain ring", _
.PartId = 1334 _
})
parts.Add(New Part() With { _
.PartName = "regular seat", _
.PartId = 1434 _
})
parts.Add(New Part() With { _
.PartName = "banana seat", _
.PartId = 1444 _
})
parts.Add(New Part() With { _
.PartName = "cassette", _
.PartId = 1534 _
})
parts.Add(New Part() With { _
.PartName = "shift lever", _
.PartId = 1634 _
})
Console.WriteLine()
For Each aPart As Part In parts
Console.WriteLine(aPart)
Next
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Capacity: {0}", parts.Capacity)
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", parts.Count)
parts.TrimExcess()
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "TrimExcess()")
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", parts.Capacity)
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", parts.Count)
parts.Clear()
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Clear()")
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", parts.Capacity)
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", parts.Count)
End Sub
'
' This code example produces the following output.
' Capacity: 0
'
' ID: 1234 Name: crank arm
' ID: 1334 Name: chain ring
' ID: 1434 Name: seat
' ID: 1534 Name: cassette
' ID: 1634 Name: shift lever
'
' Capacity: 8
' Count: 6
'
' TrimExcess()
' Capacity: 6
' Count: 6
'
' Clear()
' Capacity: 6
' Count: 0
'
End Class
The following example shows the Capacity property at several points in the life of a list. The parameterless constructor is used to create a list of strings with a capacity of 0, and the Capacity property is displayed to demonstrate this. After the Add method has been used to add several items, the items are listed, and then the Capacity property is displayed again, along with the Count property, to show that the capacity has been increased as needed.
The Capacity property is displayed again after the TrimExcess method is used to reduce the capacity to match the count. Finally, the Clear method is used to remove all items from the list, and the Capacity and Count properties are displayed again.
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;
void main()
{
List<String^>^ dinosaurs = gcnew List<String^>();
Console::WriteLine("\nCapacity: {0}", dinosaurs->Capacity);
dinosaurs->Add("Tyrannosaurus");
dinosaurs->Add("Amargasaurus");
dinosaurs->Add("Mamenchisaurus");
dinosaurs->Add("Deinonychus");
dinosaurs->Add("Compsognathus");
Console::WriteLine();
for each(String^ dinosaur in dinosaurs )
{
Console::WriteLine(dinosaur);
}
Console::WriteLine("\nCapacity: {0}", dinosaurs->Capacity);
Console::WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs->Count);
Console::WriteLine("\nContains(\"Deinonychus\"): {0}",
dinosaurs->Contains("Deinonychus"));
Console::WriteLine("\nInsert(2, \"Compsognathus\")");
dinosaurs->Insert(2, "Compsognathus");
Console::WriteLine();
for each(String^ dinosaur in dinosaurs )
{
Console::WriteLine(dinosaur);
}
Console::WriteLine("\ndinosaurs[3]: {0}", dinosaurs[3]);
Console::WriteLine("\nRemove(\"Compsognathus\")");
dinosaurs->Remove("Compsognathus");
Console::WriteLine();
for each(String^ dinosaur in dinosaurs )
{
Console::WriteLine(dinosaur);
}
dinosaurs->TrimExcess();
Console::WriteLine("\nTrimExcess()");
Console::WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs->Capacity);
Console::WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs->Count);
dinosaurs->Clear();
Console::WriteLine("\nClear()");
Console::WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs->Capacity);
Console::WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs->Count);
}
/* This code example produces the following output:
Capacity: 0
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
Capacity: 8
Count: 5
Contains("Deinonychus"): True
Insert(2, "Compsognathus")
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Compsognathus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
dinosaurs[3]: Mamenchisaurus
Remove("Compsognathus")
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
TrimExcess()
Capacity: 5
Count: 5
Clear()
Capacity: 5
Count: 0
*/
List<string> dinosaurs = new List<string>();
Console.WriteLine("\nCapacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity);
dinosaurs.Add("Tyrannosaurus");
dinosaurs.Add("Amargasaurus");
dinosaurs.Add("Mamenchisaurus");
dinosaurs.Add("Deinonychus");
dinosaurs.Add("Compsognathus");
Console.WriteLine();
foreach(string dinosaur in dinosaurs)
{
Console.WriteLine(dinosaur);
}
Console.WriteLine("\nCapacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity);
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs.Count);
Console.WriteLine("\nContains(\"Deinonychus\"): {0}",
dinosaurs.Contains("Deinonychus"));
Console.WriteLine("\nInsert(2, \"Compsognathus\")");
dinosaurs.Insert(2, "Compsognathus");
Console.WriteLine();
foreach(string dinosaur in dinosaurs)
{
Console.WriteLine(dinosaur);
}
// Shows accessing the list using the Item property.
Console.WriteLine("\ndinosaurs[3]: {0}", dinosaurs[3]);
Console.WriteLine("\nRemove(\"Compsognathus\")");
dinosaurs.Remove("Compsognathus");
Console.WriteLine();
foreach(string dinosaur in dinosaurs)
{
Console.WriteLine(dinosaur);
}
dinosaurs.TrimExcess();
Console.WriteLine("\nTrimExcess()");
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity);
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs.Count);
dinosaurs.Clear();
Console.WriteLine("\nClear()");
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity);
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs.Count);
/* This code example produces the following output:
Capacity: 0
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
Capacity: 8
Count: 5
Contains("Deinonychus"): True
Insert(2, "Compsognathus")
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Compsognathus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
dinosaurs[3]: Mamenchisaurus
Remove("Compsognathus")
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
TrimExcess()
Capacity: 5
Count: 5
Clear()
Capacity: 5
Count: 0
*/
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Public Class Example
Public Shared Sub Main()
Dim dinosaurs As New List(Of String)
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity)
dinosaurs.Add("Tyrannosaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Amargasaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Mamenchisaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Deinonychus")
dinosaurs.Add("Compsognathus")
Console.WriteLine()
For Each dinosaur As String In dinosaurs
Console.WriteLine(dinosaur)
Next
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity)
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs.Count)
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Contains(""Deinonychus""): {0}", _
dinosaurs.Contains("Deinonychus"))
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Insert(2, ""Compsognathus"")")
dinosaurs.Insert(2, "Compsognathus")
Console.WriteLine()
For Each dinosaur As String In dinosaurs
Console.WriteLine(dinosaur)
Next
' Shows how to access the list using the Item property.
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "dinosaurs(3): {0}", dinosaurs(3))
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Remove(""Compsognathus"")")
dinosaurs.Remove("Compsognathus")
Console.WriteLine()
For Each dinosaur As String In dinosaurs
Console.WriteLine(dinosaur)
Next
dinosaurs.TrimExcess()
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "TrimExcess()")
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity)
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs.Count)
dinosaurs.Clear()
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Clear()")
Console.WriteLine("Capacity: {0}", dinosaurs.Capacity)
Console.WriteLine("Count: {0}", dinosaurs.Count)
End Sub
End Class
' This code example produces the following output:
'
'Capacity: 0
'
'Tyrannosaurus
'Amargasaurus
'Mamenchisaurus
'Deinonychus
'Compsognathus
'
'Capacity: 8
'Count: 5
'
'Contains("Deinonychus"): True
'
'Insert(2, "Compsognathus")
'
'Tyrannosaurus
'Amargasaurus
'Compsognathus
'Mamenchisaurus
'Deinonychus
'Compsognathus
'
'dinosaurs(3): Mamenchisaurus
'
'Remove("Compsognathus")
'
'Tyrannosaurus
'Amargasaurus
'Mamenchisaurus
'Deinonychus
'Compsognathus
'
'TrimExcess()
'Capacity: 5
'Count: 5
'
'Clear()
'Capacity: 5
'Count: 0
[<EntryPoint>]
let main argv =
// We refer to System.Collections.Generic.List<'T> by its type
// abbreviation ResizeArray<'T> to avoid conflict with the List module.
// Note: In F# code, F# linked lists are usually preferred over
// ResizeArray<'T> when an extendable collection is required.
let dinosaurs = ResizeArray<_>()
// Write out the dinosaurs in the ResizeArray.
let printDinosaurs() =
printfn ""
dinosaurs |> Seq.iter (fun p -> printfn "%O" p)
printfn "\nCapacity: %i" dinosaurs.Capacity
dinosaurs.Add("Tyrannosaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Amargasaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Mamenchisaurus")
dinosaurs.Add("Deinonychus")
dinosaurs.Add("Compsognathus")
printDinosaurs()
printfn "\nCapacity: %i" dinosaurs.Capacity
printfn "Count: %i" dinosaurs.Count
printfn "\nContains(\"Deinonychus\"): %b" (dinosaurs.Contains("Deinonychus"))
printfn "\nInsert(2, \"Compsognathus\")"
dinosaurs.Insert(2, "Compsognathus")
printDinosaurs()
// Shows accessing the list using the Item property.
printfn "\ndinosaurs[3]: %s" dinosaurs.[3]
printfn "\nRemove(\"Compsognathus\")"
dinosaurs.Remove("Compsognathus") |> ignore
printDinosaurs()
dinosaurs.TrimExcess()
printfn "\nTrimExcess()"
printfn "Capacity: %i" dinosaurs.Capacity
printfn "Count: %i" dinosaurs.Count
dinosaurs.Clear()
printfn "\nClear()"
printfn "Capacity: %i" dinosaurs.Capacity
printfn "Count: %i" dinosaurs.Count
0 // return an integer exit code
(* This code example produces the following output:
Capacity: 0
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
Capacity: 8
Count: 5
Contains("Deinonychus"): true
Insert(2, "Compsognathus")
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Compsognathus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
dinosaurs[3]: Mamenchisaurus
Remove("Compsognathus")
Tyrannosaurus
Amargasaurus
Mamenchisaurus
Deinonychus
Compsognathus
TrimExcess()
Capacity: 5
Count: 5
Clear()
Capacity: 5
Count: 0
*)
Capacity is the number of elements that the List<T> can store before resizing is required, whereas Count is the number of elements that are actually in the List<T>.
Capacity is always greater than or equal to Count. If Count exceeds Capacity while adding elements, the capacity is increased by automatically reallocating the internal array before copying the old elements and adding the new elements.
If the capacity is significantly larger than the count and you want to reduce the memory used by the List<T>, you can decrease capacity by calling the TrimExcess method or by setting the Capacity property explicitly to a lower value. When the value of Capacity is set explicitly, the internal array is also reallocated to accommodate the specified capacity, and all the elements are copied.
Retrieving the value of this property is an O(1) operation; setting the property is an O(n) operation, where n is the new capacity.
Product | Versions |
---|---|
.NET | Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
.NET Framework | 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1 |
.NET Standard | 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1 |
UWP | 10.0 |
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