Linq style "For Each"

C#.NetLinqForeach

C# Problem Overview


Is there any Linq style syntax for "For each" operations?

For instance, add values based on one collection to another, already existing one:

IEnumerable<int> someValues = new List<int>() { 1, 2, 3 };

IList<int> list = new List<int>();

someValues.ForEach(x => list.Add(x + 1));

Instead of

foreach(int value in someValues)
{
  list.Add(value + 1);
}

C# Solutions


Solution 1 - C#

Using the ToList() extension method is your best option:

someValues.ToList().ForEach(x => list.Add(x + 1));

There is no extension method in the BCL that implements ForEach directly.


Although there's no extension method in the BCL that does this, there is still an option in the System namespace... if you add Reactive Extensions to your project:

using System.Reactive.Linq;

someValues.ToObservable().Subscribe(x => list.Add(x + 1));

This has the same end result as the above use of ToList, but is (in theory) more efficient, because it streams the values directly to the delegate.

Solution 2 - C#

The Array and List<T> classes already have ForEach methods, though only this specific implementation. (Note that the former is static, by the way).

Not sure it really offers a great advantage over a foreach statement, but you could write an extension method to do the job for all IEnumerable<T> objects.

public static void ForEach<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source, Action<T> action)
{
    foreach (var item in source)
        action(item);
}

This would allow the exact code you posted in your question to work just as you want.

Solution 3 - C#

There isn't anything built-in, but you can easily create your own extension method to do it:

public static void ForEach<T>(this IEnumerable<T> source, Action<T> action)
{
    if (source == null) throw new ArgumentNullException("source");
    if (action == null) throw new ArgumentNullException("action");

    foreach (T item in source)
    {
        action(item);
    }
}

Solution 4 - C#

The official MS line is "because it's not a functional operation" (ie it's a stateful operation).

Couldn't you do something like:

list.Select( x => x+1 )

or if you really need it in a List:

var someValues = new List<int>( list.Select( x => x+1 ) );

Solution 5 - C#

There is no Linq ForEach extension. However, the List class has a ForEach method on it, if you're willing to use the List directly.

For what it's worth, the standard foreach syntax will give you the results you want and it's probably easier to read:

foreach (var x in someValues)
{
    list.Add(x + 1);
}

If you're adamant you want an Linq style extension. it's trivial to implement this yourself.

public static void ForEach<T>(this IEnumerable<T> @this, Action<T> action)
{
   foreach (var x in @this)
      action(x);
}

Solution 6 - C#

There isn't anything like that in standard Linq, but there is a ForEach operator in MoreLinq.

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionStefan SteineggerView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - C#Mark SeemannView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - C#NoldorinView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - C#LukeHView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - C#stusmithView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - C#dustyburwellView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - C#R. Martinho FernandesView Answer on Stackoverflow