How can I compare two unordered sequences (list and array) for equality?

Question

I have string array say string str[] = {"a", "b"}

and List<string> lst = new List<string> {"a", "b"}

How can I make sure that both string array and list contains the same values. Note: The values can be in any order but must have the same frequency.

Can anyone tell me how to do it in LINQ?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Maybe I'm missing something, but why don't you just

• Sort both (since order is irrelevant for you)
• Compare the results with SequenceEqual()¹

Saves the dictionary approach of Jason (which, obviously, should work as well) and seems more natural/easy to me?

①: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.linq.enumerable.sequenceequal