GetHashCode override of object containing generic array

Question

I have a class that contains the following two properties:

public int Id      { get; private set; }
public T[] Values  { get; private set; }

<

Answer 1

FWIW, it's very dangerous to use the contents of the Values in your hash code. You should only do this if you can guarantee that it will never change. However, since it is exposed, I don't think guaranteeing it is possible. The hashcode of an object should never change. Otherwise, it loses its value as a key in a Hashtable or Dictionary. Consider the hard-to-find bug of using an object as a key in a Hashtable, its hashcode changes because of an outside influence and you can no longer find it in the Hashtable!