Get Dictionary Value by Key

Get Dictionary Value by Key

How can I get the dictionary value by a key on a function?

My function code (and the command I try doesn't work):

static void XML_Array(Dictionary<string, string> Data_Array)
{
    String xmlfile = Data_Array.TryGetValue("XML_File", out value);
}

My button code:

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Dictionary<string, string> Data_Array = new Dictionary<string, string>();
    Data_Array.Add("XML_File", "Settings.xml");

    XML_Array(Data_Array);
}

I want on the XML_Array function the variable to be:

string xmlfile = "Settings.xml":
2

11 Answers

It's as simple as this:

String xmlfile = Data_Array["XML_File"];

Note that if the dictionary doesn't have a key that equals "XML_File", that code will throw an exception. If you want to check first, you can use TryGetValue like this:

string xmlfile;
if (!Data_Array.TryGetValue("XML_File", out xmlfile)) {
   // the key isn't in the dictionary.
   return; // or whatever you want to do
}
// xmlfile is now equal to the value
0

Just use the key name on the dictionary. C# has this:

 Dictionary<string, string> dict = new Dictionary<string, string>();
 dict.Add("UserID", "test");
 string userIDFromDictionaryByKey = dict["UserID"];

If you look at the tip suggestion:

4

That is not how the TryGetValue works. It returns true or false based on whether the key is found or not, and sets its out parameter to the corresponding value if the key is there.

If you want to check if the key is there or not and do something when it's missing, you need something like this:

bool hasValue = Data_Array.TryGetValue("XML_File", out value);
if (hasValue) {
    xmlfile = value;
} else {
    // do something when the value is not there
}
1
Dictionary<String, String> d = new Dictionary<String, String>();
d.Add("1", "Mahadev");
d.Add("2", "Mahesh");
Console.WriteLine(d["1"]); // It will print Value of key '1'
1
static void XML_Array(Dictionary<string, string> Data_Array)
{
    String value;
    if(Data_Array.TryGetValue("XML_File", out value))
    {
        // ... Do something here with value ...
    }
}
static String findFirstKeyByValue(Dictionary<string, string> Data_Array, String value)
{
    if (Data_Array.ContainsValue(value))
    {
        foreach (String key in Data_Array.Keys)
        {
            if (Data_Array[key].Equals(value))
                return key;
        }
    }
    return null;
}
2

Here is an example which I use in my source code. I am getting key and value from Dictionary from element 0 to number of elements in my Dictionary. Then I fill my string[] array which I send as a parameter after in my function which accept only params string[]

Dictionary<string, decimal> listKomPop = addElements();
int xpopCount = listKomPop.Count;
if (xpopCount > 0)
{
    string[] xpostoci = new string[xpopCount];
    for (int i = 0; i < xpopCount; i++)
    {
        /* here you have key and value element */
        string key = listKomPop.Keys.ElementAt(i);
        decimal value = listKomPop[key];

        xpostoci[i] = value.ToString();
    }
...

This solution works with SortedDictionary also.

Dictionary<int,string> dict = new Dictionary<int,string>{
  {1,"item1"},
  {2,"item2"},
  {3,"item3"},
}

int key = 2 // for example
string result = dict.ContainsKey(key) ? dict[key] : null;
1
private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Dictionary<string, string> Data_Array = new Dictionary<string, string>();
    Data_Array.Add("XML_File", "Settings.xml");

    XML_Array(Data_Array);
}

static void XML_Array(Dictionary<string, string> Data_Array)
{
    String xmlfile = Data_Array["XML_File"];
}
1

I use a similar method to dasblinkenlight's in a function to return a single key value from a Cookie containing a JSON array loaded into a Dictionary as follows:

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets a single key Value from a Json filled cookie with 'cookiename','key' 
    /// </summary>
    public static string GetSpecialCookieKeyVal(string _CookieName, string _key)
    {
        //CALL COOKIE VALUES INTO DICTIONARY
        Dictionary<string, string> dictCookie =
        JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, string>>
         (MyCookinator.Get(_CookieName));

        string value;
        if (dictCookie.TryGetValue( _key, out value))
        {
            return value;
        }
        else
        {
            return "0";
        }

    }

Where "MyCookinator.Get()" is another simple Cookie function getting an http cookie overall value.

1
if (Data_Array["XML_File"] != "") String xmlfile = Data_Array["XML_File"];
1

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Maya Lin-Takahashi
Author

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.