const Dictionary in c#

Question

I have a class in C# that contains a Dictionary, which I want to create and ensure nothing as added, edited or removed from this dictionary as long as the class which contains it exists.

readonly doesn't really help, once I tested and saw that I can add items after. Just for instance, I created an example:

public class DictContainer
{
    private readonly Dictionary<int, int> myDictionary;

    public DictContainer()
    {
        myDictionary = GetDictionary();
    }

    private Dictionary<int, int> GetDictionary()
    {
        Dictionary<int, int> myDictionary = new Dictionary<int, int>();

        myDictionary.Add(1, 2);
        myDictionary.Add(2, 4);
        myDictionary.Add(3, 6);

        return myDictionary;
    }

    public void Add(int key, int value)
    {
        myDictionary.Add(key, value);
    }

}

I want the Add method not to work. If possible, I want it not to even compile. Any suggestions?

Actually, I'm worried for it is code that will be open for a lot of people to change. So, even if I hide the Add method, it will be possible for someone to "innocently" create a method which add a key, or remove another. I want people to look and know they shouldn't change the dictionary in any ways. Just like I have with a const variable.

Answer 1

Hide the Dictionary totally. Just provide a get method on the DictContainer class that retrieves items from the dictionary.

public class DictContainer
{
    private readonly Dictionary<int, int> myDictionary;

    public DictContainer()
    {
        myDictionary = GetDictionary();
    }

    private Dictionary<int, int> GetDictionary()
    {
        Dictionary<int, int> myDictionary = new Dictionary<int, int>();

        myDictionary.Add(1, 2);
        myDictionary.Add(2, 4);
        myDictionary.Add(3, 6);

        return myDictionary;
    }

    public this[int key]
    {
        return myDictionary[key];
    }
}

Answer 2

Don't define the Add Method.

Keep the myDictionary variable private and expose a Getter/Indexer so that it can only be read from outside that class..