How Can a BiDictionaryOneToOne Class Solve Bidirectional 1-to-1 Mapping Challenges in C#?

Mastering Bidirectional 1:1 Mapping in C# with BiDictionaryOneToOne

Efficiently managing unique key-value relationships in C# often necessitates a bidirectional 1:1 mapping. This article introduces the BiDictionaryOneToOne class, a powerful solution for this specific need.

Why BiDictionaryOneToOne?

Standard C# dictionaries (Dictionary<TKey, TValue>) don't inherently enforce unique keys and values. This limitation can lead to inconsistencies and errors when a strict 1:1 correspondence is required. BiDictionaryOneToOne solves this problem.

BiDictionaryOneToOne: Design and Implementation

The BiDictionaryOneToOne<TF, TS> class employs two internal dictionaries: firstToSecond and secondToFirst. The Add method ensures both the key and value are unique before insertion, preventing duplicates and maintaining the 1:1 relationship.

Retrieving Keys and Values

The GetByFirst and GetBySecond methods provide straightforward access to associated values and keys, respectively. For robustness, they throw exceptions if a key or value is not found.

Safe Retrieval with Try Methods

To avoid exceptions, TryGetByFirst and TryGetBySecond offer safer alternatives. These methods return false if the key or value is missing, allowing for graceful error handling.

Key Features and Functionality

Beyond basic retrieval, BiDictionaryOneToOne includes methods for removing entries (RemoveByFirst, RemoveBySecond), attempting removal (TryRemoveByFirst, TryRemoveBySecond), checking the number of stored pairs (Count), and clearing the dictionary.

Conclusion

BiDictionaryOneToOne provides a reliable and efficient mechanism for implementing bidirectional 1:1 mappings in C#. Its unique design ensures data integrity and simplifies development in scenarios requiring strict key-value uniqueness.

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