How do I return multiple strings from a method in C#

Question

If I have something like:

        static string characterName()
    {
        Console.Write("Name your character: ");
        string name = Console.ReadLine();
        Console.Write("Is this correct? (Y/N): ");
        string nameConfirm = Console.ReadLine();
        return nameConfirm;
    }

How can I change this so it outputs both nameConfirm and name. The nameConfirm goes into:

        static string stageOne(string nameConfirm)
    {
        while (nameConfirm != "Y")
            nameConfirm = Program.characterName();
        if (nameConfirm == "Y")
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Alright, lets continue.");
            nameConfirm = Console.ReadLine();
        }
        return nameConfirm;

That works fine but I want to be able to call upon the name later if its needed.

one way is to make the return collection of `string` rather than `string`, like `string[]` or `List` or `IEnumerable` or `Dictionary` and so on... You could also return `Tuple` — Ian, Apr 21 '16 at 14:49
you can return a string collection, or an object with multiple string properties, or a tuple, or use the `out` keyword and functionality... — user1666620, Apr 21 '16 at 14:49

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 21 '16 at 14:51

There are two ways you could do this that aren't too overkill, the first is to return a string array

static string[] characterName()
{
    Console.Write("Name your character: ");
    string name = Console.ReadLine();
    Console.Write("Is this correct? (Y/N): ");
    string nameConfirm = Console.ReadLine();
    return new string[]{ nameConfirm, name };
}

This object can then be used like so

string[] names = characterName();
string runStageOne = stageOne(names[0]);

The other way you can do this is to return the nameConfirm variable and use the name variable as a ref, so your method would change to

static string characterName(ref string name)
{
    Console.Write("Name your character: ");
    string name = Console.ReadLine();
    Console.Write("Is this correct? (Y/N): ");
    string nameConfirm = Console.ReadLine();
    return nameConfirm;
}

And would be called like

string name = "";
string nameConfirmed = characterName(ref name);

By using the ref keyword on your input parameter, it means that when the value of name is changed in the method, that change is reflected outside of it too

I hardly ever use arrays after the introduction of `List` – TaW Apr 21 '16 at 14:55 — TaW, Apr 21 '16 at 14:55

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 21 '16 at 14:50

0

You could return a List, a string[], or define a class to represent the result of the method (ie with two string properties)...

answered Apr 21 '16 at 14:50

Martin Milan

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How do I return multiple strings from a method in C#

2 Answers2