ArrayList vs List<> in C#

Question

What is the difference between ArrayList and List<> in C#?

Is it only that List<> has a type while ArrayLis

Answer 1

Simple Answer is,

ArrayList is Non-Generic

• It is an Object Type, so you can store any data type into it.
• You can store any values (value type or reference type) such string, int, employee and object in the ArrayList. (Note and)
• Boxing and Unboxing will happen.
• Not type safe.
• It is older.

List is Generic

• It is a Type of Type, so you can specify the T on run-time.
• You can store an only value of Type T (string or int or employee or object) based on the declaration. (Note or)
• Boxing and Unboxing will not happen.
• Type safe.
• It is newer.

Example:

ArrayList arrayList = new ArrayList();
List list = new List();

arrayList.Add(1);
arrayList.Add("String");
arrayList.Add(new object());


list.Add(1);
list.Add("String");                 // Compile-time Error
list.Add(new object());             // Compile-time Error

Please read the Microsoft official document: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/kcwalina/2005/09/23/system-collections-vs-system-collection-generic-and-system-collections-objectmodel/

Note: You should know Generics before understanding the difference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/generics/