Indices and Range in C#

Indices and Range provide clear, concise syntax to access a single element or a range of elements in a sequence.

Official Doc

Indices

specifies that an index is relative to the end of sequence.

^ Index from end operator

Rules for indices

Assume we have array named myArray;

^0 → myArray[myArray.Length]

So, myArray[^0] throws exception, just as myArray[myArray.Length];

For any number n, the index ^n is the same as myArray[myArray.Length - n];

Retrieve last element of Array.

myArray[^1]

   int [] myArray = new int[5] {0,1,2,3,4};

		Console.WriteLine("#-----Indices-----#");

		// last index
		Console.WriteLine(myArray[^1]);
		// second last index
		Console.WriteLine(myArray[^2]);
		// fifth from end
		Console.WriteLine(myArray[^5]);

Retrieve second last element of Array:

myArray[^2]

Indices as variables.

indices are System.Index Type.

    Index last = ^1;
		Console.WriteLine(myArray[last]);

String, Span<T>, ReadOnlySpan<T> and List<T> supports indices.

Range

A range specifies the start and end of a range.

Ranges are exclusive, it means the end is not included in the range. whenever we defined the Range end position is not included in result.

.. indicates the range operator.

Indices can be used with range operator

The range [0..^0] → [0..myArray.Length];

    Console.WriteLine("All the elements: myArray[..]");
		// 0,1,2,3,4
		Console.WriteLine(string.Join(',',myArray[..]));

		Console.WriteLine("0 to ^1. [^1] is not included: myArray[0..^1]");
		// 0,1,2,3
		Console.WriteLine(string.Join(',',myArray[0..^1]));

Range as variables.

   Range zeroToThird = 0..^1;
		// 0,1,2,3
		Console.WriteLine(string.Join(',',myArray[zeroToThird]));

String, Span<T>, ReadOnlySpan<T> support ranges.

Fiddle

https://dotnetfiddle.net/B2fJuL