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636

answers:

1

I am trying to determine if two HashSet objects in .NET 3.5 (C#) are equal sets, i.e. contain the same values. This seems like something one would obviously want to do but none of the provided functions seem to give you this information.

The way I can think to do this is by checking if the count of the two sets are equal and one set is a subset (not proper) of the other. I think the only way that can happen is if they are equal sets. Example code:

HashSet<int> set1 = new HashSet<int>();
set1.Add(1);
set1.Add(2);
set1.Add(3);

HashSet<int> set2 = new HashSet<int>();
set2.Add(1);
set2.Add(2);
set2.Add(3);

if(set1.Count == set2.Count && set1.IsSubsetOf(set2))
{
    // do something
}

Would this always work? Is there a better way? Why doesn't HashSet have a public bool IsEqualSetWith() function?

+5  A: 
SetEquals()?
Michael Burr
Thanks Michael, I don't know how I completely missed that in the method list on MSDN...
Craig
Happens to everyone at one time or another. I just can't believe I beat out both Jon Skeet and Marc Gravell on a .NET question. I guess they *do* have to sleep sometime.
Michael Burr