C#: Array of references / pointers to a number of integers

Question

I would like to hold references to a number of shorts in an array. I assumed I could just create the shorts and then add them to the array. So... every time the referenced o

Answer 1

You can use ReferenceType transparently as if float, int etc. were actually reference types if you add a conversion operator to the class:

class ReferenceType where T : struct
{
    public T Value { get; set; }
    public ReferenceType(T value) { this.Value = value; }
    public static implicit operator ReferenceType(T b)
    {
        ReferenceType r = new ReferenceType(b);
        return r;
    }
    public static implicit operator T(ReferenceType b)
    {
        return b.Value;
    }
}
ReferenceType f1 = new ReferenceType(100f);
f1 = 200f;
float f2 = f1;

By using the explicit qualifier instead of implicit, you can require casts for these conversions, if you want to make things clearer at the expense of a little verbosity.