Sorting a List of objects in C#

Question

The List<T> class makes this trivial for you, since it contains a Sort method. (It uses the QuickSort algorithm, not Bubble Sort, which is typically better anyway.) Even better, it has an overload that takes a Comparison<T> argument, which means you can pass a lambda expression and make things very simple indeed.

Try this:

CarList.Sort((x, y) => DateTime.Compare(x.CreationDate, y.CreationDate));

You could use LINQ:

listOfCars.OrderBy(x => x.CreationDate);

EDIT: With this approach, its easy to add on more sort columns:

listOfCars.OrderBy(x => x.CreationDate).ThenBy(x => x.Make).ThenBy(x => x.Whatever);

The best approach is to implement either IComparable or IComparable<T>, and then call List<T>.Sort(). This will do all the hard work of sorting for you.

Another option would be to use a custom comparer:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

namespace Yournamespace
{
   class CarNameComparer : IComparer<Car>
   {
      #region IComparer<Car> Members

      public int Compare(Car car1, Car car2)
      {
         int returnValue = 1;
         if (car1 != null && car2 == null)
         {
            returnValue = 0;
         }
         else if (car1 == null && car2 != null)
         {
            returnValue = 0;
         }
         else if (car1 != null && car2 != null)
         {
            if (car1.CreationDate.Equals(car2.CreationDate))
            {
               returnValue = car1.Name.CompareTo(car2.Name);
            }
            else
            {
               returnValue = car2.CreationDate.CompareTo(car1.CreationDate);
            }
         }
         return returnValue;
      }

      #endregion
   }
}

which you call like this:

yourCarlist.Sort(new CarNameComparer());

Note: I didn't compile this code so you might have to remove typo's

Edit: modified it so the comparer compares on creationdate as requested in question.

I would just use the build in List.Sort method. It uses the QuickSort algorithm which on average runs in O(n log n).

This code should work for you, I change your properties to auto-properties, and defined a static CompareCarSpecs method that just uses the already existing DateTime.CompareTo method.

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List<CarSpecs> cars = new List<CarSpecs>();
        cars.Sort(CarSpecs.CompareCarSpecs);
    }
}

public class CarSpecs
{
    public string CarName { get; set; }
    public string CarMaker { get; set; }
    public DateTime CreationDate { get; set; }

    public static int CompareCarSpecs(CarSpecs x, CarSpecs y)
    {
        return x.CreationDate.CompareTo(y.CreationDate);
    }
}

Hope this helps.

Putting some of the pieces mentioned here together. This compiles and works in C# 4.x and VS2010. I tested with a WinForm. So add the method to the WinForm Main(). You will need the System.Linq and System.Generic.Collections assemblies at least.

    private void SortCars()
    {
        List<CarSpecs> cars = new List<CarSpecs>();
        List<CarSpecs> carsSorted = new List<CarSpecs>();

        cars.Add(new CarSpecs
        {
            CarName = "Y50",
            CarMaker = "Ford",
            CreationDate = new DateTime(2011, 4, 1),
        });

        cars.Add(new CarSpecs
        {
            CarName = "X25",
            CarMaker = "Volvo",
            CreationDate = new DateTime(2012, 3, 1),
        });

        cars.Add(new CarSpecs
        {
            CarName = "Z75",
            CarMaker = "Datsun",
            CreationDate = new DateTime(2010, 5, 1),
        });

        //More Comprehensive if needed  
        //cars.OrderBy(x => x.CreationDate).ThenBy(x => x.CarMaker).ThenBy(x => x.CarName);

        carsSorted.AddRange(cars.OrderBy(x => x.CreationDate));

        foreach (CarSpecs caritm in carsSorted)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Name: " +caritm.CarName 
                + "\r\nMaker: " +caritm.CarMaker
                + "\r\nCreationDate: " +caritm.CreationDate);
        }
    }
}

public class CarSpecs
{
    public string CarName { get; set; }
    public string CarMaker { get; set; }
    public DateTime CreationDate { get; set; }
} 

If you're after an efficient way of sorting, I'd advise against using bubble sort and go for a quick sort instead. This page provides a rather good explanation of the algorithm:

http://www.devhood.com/Tutorials/tutorial_details.aspx?tutorial_id=574

Best of luck!