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c#.netlinqiequalitycomparer

IEqualityComparer for SequenceEqual


In C#, is there an IEqualityComparer<IEnumerable> that uses the SequenceEqual method to determine equality?


Solution

  • There is no such comparer in .NET Framework, but you can create one:

    public class IEnumerableComparer<T> : IEqualityComparer<IEnumerable<T>>
    {
        public bool Equals(IEnumerable<T> x, IEnumerable<T> y)
        {
            return Object.ReferenceEquals(x, y) || (x != null && y != null && x.SequenceEqual(y));
        }
    
        public int GetHashCode(IEnumerable<T> obj)
        {
            // Will not throw an OverflowException
            unchecked
            {
                return obj.Where(e => e != null).Select(e => e.GetHashCode()).Aggregate(17, (a, b) => 23 * a + b);
            }
        }
    }
    

    In the above code, I iterate over all items of the collection in the GetHashCode. I don't know if it's the wisest solution but this what is done in the internal HashSetEqualityComparer.