C# Academy · Lesson

foreach patterns; collection initializers

Write safe foreach loops over arrays, lists, and dictionaries; initialize collections concisely with collection initializer syntax.

foreach patterns; collection initializers is a free C# Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C# Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Overview

Goal: Iterate safely with foreach and create/populate collections with collection initializers.

foreach over arrays/lists
foreach over dictionaries
List<T> and Dictionary<K,V> initializers

foreach arrays & lists

foreach is simple and safe: it reads items one by one without manual indexing.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program
{
  public static void Main(string[] args)
  {
    int[] nums = new int[] { 2, 4, 6 };
    int sum = 0;
    foreach (int n in nums) // no index to manage, safe bounds
    {
      sum = sum + n;
    }
    Console.WriteLine("Sum = " + sum);

    List<string> names = new List<string>();
    names.Add("Ada");
    names.Add("Alan");
    foreach (string s in names)
    {
      Console.WriteLine("Hi " + s);
    }
  }
}

Index with foreach

If you need an index with foreach, keep a small counter variable.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program
{
  public static void Main(string[] args)
  {
    List<string> items = new List<string>();
    items.Add("apple");
    items.Add("banana");
    items.Add("cherry");

    int i = 0;
    foreach (string item in items)
    {
      Console.WriteLine("#" + i + ": " + item);
      i = i + 1; // manual index when needed
    }
  }
}

foreach dictionary

Dictionary iteration yields KeyValuePair<K,V>; or iterate Keys/Values only.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program
{
  public static void Main(string[] args)
  {
    Dictionary<string, int> stock = new Dictionary<string, int>();
    stock["pen"] = 10;
    stock["book"] = 5;

    foreach (KeyValuePair<string, int> kv in stock)
    {
      Console.WriteLine(kv.Key + " -> " + kv.Value);
    }

    // Iterate keys or values only
    foreach (string k in stock.Keys) { Console.WriteLine("Key: " + k); }
    foreach (int v in stock.Values) { Console.WriteLine("Value: " + v); }
  }
}

List<T> initializer

Collection initializer creates and fills a list in one expression; it expands to repeated Add calls.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program
{
  public static void Main(string[] args)
  {
    // Calls Add for each element under the hood
    List<string> fruits = new List<string> { "apple", "banana", "cherry" };
    foreach (string f in fruits)
    {
      Console.WriteLine(f);
    }
  }
}

Dictionary initializer

Dictionary initializer uses { key, value } entries; this expands to Add(key, value) calls.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program
{
  public static void Main(string[] args)
  {
    // Each { key, value } becomes Add(key, value)
    Dictionary<string, int> scores = new Dictionary<string, int>
    {
      { "Ada", 95 },
      { "Alan", 90 }
    };

    // Show contents
    foreach (KeyValuePair<string, int> kv in scores)
    {
      Console.WriteLine(kv.Key + " = " + kv.Value);
    }
  }
}

Initializer benefit

Quick check: What is a key benefit of collection initializers in C#?

Recap

Recap: Use foreach to iterate arrays, lists, and dictionaries safely. Prefer collection initializers to create and fill collections concisely.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “foreach patterns; collection initializers” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “foreach patterns; collection initializers” is free to read here on the web, and the C# Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C# Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “foreach patterns; collection initializers”?

Write safe foreach loops over arrays, lists, and dictionaries; initialize collections concisely with collection initializer syntax. You practise C# Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C# Academy?

No prior experience is required. C# Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “foreach patterns; collection initializers” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this C# Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C# Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

Arrays, slicing, List , Dictionary
foreach patterns; collection initializers
LINQ preview: Where, Select, OrderBy, Take/Skip; deferred execution

← Back to C# Academy