How to write a class that (like array) can be indexed with `arr[key]`?

Question

Like we do Session.Add("LoginUserId", 123); and then we can access Session["LoginUserId"], like an Array, how do we implement it?

Answer 1

You need an indexer:

public Thing this[string index] {     get     {          // get the item for that index.          return YourGetItemMethod(index)     }     set     {         // set the item for this index. value will be of type Thing.         YourAddItemMethod(index, value)     } } 

This will let you use your class objects like an array:

MyClass cl = new MyClass(); cl["hello"] = anotherObject; // etc. 

There's also a tutorial available if you need more help.

Addendum:

You mention that you wanted this to be available on a static class. That get's a little more complicated, because you can't use a static indexer. If you want to use an indexer, you'd need to access it off of a static Field or some such sorcery as in this answer.

Answer 2

You should use indexers See the link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/2549tw02.aspx