Array.Clear Method

Definition

Overloads

Clear(Array)

Clears the contents of an array.

Clear(Array, Int32, Int32)

Sets a range of elements in an array to the default value of each element type.

Clear(Array)

Clears the contents of an array.

public:
 static void Clear(Array ^ array);
public static void Clear (Array array);
static member Clear : Array -> unit
Public Shared Sub Clear (array As Array)

Parameters

array
Array

The array to clear.

Exceptions

array is null.

Applies to

Clear(Array, Int32, Int32)

Sets a range of elements in an array to the default value of each element type.

public:
 static void Clear(Array ^ array, int index, int length);
public static void Clear (Array array, int index, int length);
static member Clear : Array * int * int -> unit
Public Shared Sub Clear (array As Array, index As Integer, length As Integer)

Parameters

array
Array

The array whose elements need to be cleared.

index
Int32

The starting index of the range of elements to clear.

length
Int32

The number of elements to clear.

Exceptions

array is null.

index is less than the lower bound of array.

-or-

length is less than zero.

-or-

The sum of index and length is greater than the size of array.

Examples

The following example uses the Clear method to reset integer values in a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional array.

using System;

class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("One dimension (Rank=1):");
        int[] numbers1 = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 };

        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++)
        {
            Console.Write("{0} ", numbers1[i]);
        }
        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine();

        Console.WriteLine("Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)");
        Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5);

        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++)
        {
            Console.Write("{0} ", numbers1[i]);
        }
        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine();

        Console.WriteLine("Two dimensions (Rank=2):");
        int[,] numbers2 = { { 1, 2, 3 }, { 4, 5, 6 }, { 7, 8, 9 } };

        for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
            {
                Console.Write("{0} ", numbers2[i, j]);
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine("Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)");
        Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5);

        for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
            {
                Console.Write("{0} ", numbers2[i, j]);
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        Console.WriteLine("Three dimensions (Rank=3):");
        int[, ,] numbers3 = {{{1, 2}, {3, 4}},
                             {{5, 6}, {7, 8}},
                             {{9, 10}, {11, 12}}};

        for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < 2; j++)
            {
                for (int k = 0; k < 2; k++)
                {
                    Console.Write("{0} ", numbers3[i, j, k]);
                }
                Console.WriteLine();
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }

        Console.WriteLine("Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)");
        Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5);

        for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < 2; j++)
            {
                for (int k = 0; k < 2; k++)
                {
                    Console.Write("{0} ", numbers3[i, j, k]);
                }
                Console.WriteLine();
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
    }
}
/*  This code example produces the following output:
 *
 * One dimension (Rank=1):
 * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 *
 * Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)
 * 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 9
 *
 * Two dimensions (Rank=2):
 * 1 2 3
 * 4 5 6
 * 7 8 9
 *
 * Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)
 * 1 2 0
 * 0 0 0
 * 0 8 9
 *
 * Three dimensions (Rank=3):
 * 1 2
 * 3 4
 *
 * 5 6
 * 7 8
 *
 * Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)
 * 1 2
 * 0 0
 *
 * 0 0
 * 0 8
 */
open System

printfn "One dimension (Rank=1):"
let numbers1 = [| 1..9 |]

for i in numbers1 do
    printf $"{i} " 
printfn "\n\nArray.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)"

Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)

for i in numbers1 do
    printf $"{i} " 

printfn "\n\nTwo dimensions (Rank=2):"

let numbers2 = array2D [ [ 1; 2; 3 ]; [ 4; 5; 6 ]; [ 7; 8; 9 ] ]

for i = 0 to 2 do
    for j = 0 to 2 do
        printfn $"{numbers2[i, j]} "
    printfn ""

printfn "\nArray.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)"
Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)

for i = 0 to 2 do
    for j = 0 to 2 do
        printfn $"{numbers2[i, j]} "
    printfn ""

printfn "Three dimensions (Rank=3):"
let numbers3 = Array3D.zeroCreate 2 2 2
numbers3[0, 0, 0] <- 1
numbers3[0, 0, 1] <- 2
numbers3[0, 1, 0] <- 3
numbers3[0, 1, 1] <- 4
numbers3[1, 0, 0] <- 5
numbers3[1, 1, 0] <- 7
numbers3[1, 0, 1] <- 6
numbers3[1, 1, 1] <- 8

for i = 0 to 1 do
    for j = 0 to 1 do
        for k = 0 to 1 do
            printf $"{numbers3[i, j, k]} "
        printfn ""
    printfn ""

printfn "Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)"
Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)

for i = 0 to 1 do
    for j = 0 to 1 do
        for k = 0 to 1 do
            printf $"{numbers3[i, j, k]} "
        printfn ""
    printfn ""

//  This code example produces the following output:
//
// One dimension (Rank=1):
// 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
//
// Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)
// 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 9
//
// Two dimensions (Rank=2):
// 1 2 3
// 4 5 6
// 7 8 9
//
// Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)
// 1 2 0
// 0 0 0
// 0 8 9
//
// Three dimensions (Rank=3):
// 1 2
// 3 4
//
// 5 6
// 7 8
//
// Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)
// 1 2
// 0 0
//
// 0 0
// 0 8
//
Module Example
    Sub Main()
        Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "One dimension (Rank=1):")
        Dim numbers1() As Integer = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}

        For i As Integer = 0 To 8
            Console.Write("{0} ", numbers1(i))
        Next 
        Console.WriteLine()

        Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)")
        Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)

        For i As Integer = 0 To 8
            Console.Write("{0} ", numbers1(i))
        Next 
        Console.WriteLine()


        Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Two dimensions (Rank=2):")
        Dim numbers2(,) As Integer = {{ 1, 2, 3 }, { 4, 5, 6 }, { 7, 8, 9 }}

        For i As Integer = 0 To 2
            For j As Integer = 0 To 2
                Console.Write("{0} ", numbers2(i, j))
            Next 
            Console.WriteLine()
        Next 

        Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)")
        Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)

        For i As Integer = 0 To 2
            For j As Integer = 0 To 2
                Console.Write("{0} ", numbers2(i, j))
            Next 
            Console.WriteLine()
        Next 


        Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Three dimensions (Rank=3):")
        Dim numbers3(,,) As Integer = {{{ 1, 2 }, { 3, 4 }}, _
                                       {{ 5, 6 }, { 7, 8 }}, _
                                       {{ 9, 10 }, { 11, 12 }}}

        For i As Integer = 0 To 1
            For j As Integer = 0 To 1
                For k As Integer = 0 To 1
                    Console.Write("{0} ", numbers3(i, j, k))
                Next 
                Console.WriteLine()
            Next 
            Console.WriteLine()
        Next 
        Console.WriteLine()
        
        Console.WriteLine("Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)")
        Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)

        For i As Integer = 0 To 1
            For j As Integer = 0 To 1
                For k As Integer = 0 To 1
                    Console.Write("{0} ", numbers3(i, j, k))
                Next 
                Console.WriteLine()
            Next 
            Console.WriteLine()
        Next 
    End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'       One dimension (Rank=1):
'       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
'       
'       Array.Clear(numbers1, 2, 5)
'       1 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 9
'       
'       Two dimensions (Rank=2):
'       1 2 3
'       4 5 6
'       7 8 9
'       
'       Array.Clear(numbers2, 2, 5)
'       1 2 0
'       0 0 0
'       0 8 9
'       
'       Three dimensions (Rank=3):
'       1 2
'       3 4
'
'       5 6
'       7 8
'       
'       Array.Clear(numbers3, 2, 5)
'       1 2
'       0 0
'       
'       0 0
'       0 8

The following example defines a TimeZoneTime structure that includes a TimeZoneInfo field and a DateTimeOffset field. It then calls the Clear method to clear one element in a two-element array of TimeZoneTime values. The method sets the value of the cleared element to the default value of a TimeZoneInfo object, which is null, and the default value of a DateTimeOffset object, which is DateTimeOffset.MinValue.

using System;

public struct TimeZoneTime
{
   private DateTimeOffset dt;
   private TimeZoneInfo tz;

   public TimeZoneTime(DateTimeOffset dateTime, TimeZoneInfo timeZone)
   {
      dt = dateTime;
      tz = timeZone;
   }

   public DateTimeOffset DateTime
   { get { return dt; } }

   public TimeZoneInfo TimeZone
   { get { return tz; } }
}

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      // Declare an array with two elements.
      TimeZoneTime[] timeZoneTimes = { new TimeZoneTime(DateTime.Now, TimeZoneInfo.Local),
                                       new TimeZoneTime(DateTime.Now, TimeZoneInfo.Utc) };
      foreach (var timeZoneTime in timeZoneTimes)
         Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1:G}",
                           timeZoneTime.TimeZone == null ? "<null>" : timeZoneTime.TimeZone.ToString(),
                           timeZoneTime.DateTime);
      Console.WriteLine();

      Array.Clear(timeZoneTimes, 1, 1);
      foreach (var timeZoneTime in timeZoneTimes)
         Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1:G}",
                           timeZoneTime.TimeZone == null ? "<null>" : timeZoneTime.TimeZone.ToString(),
                           timeZoneTime.DateTime);
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada): 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
//       UTC: 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
//
//       (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada): 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
//       <null>: 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM
open System

[<Struct>]
type TimeZoneTime =
    { DateTime: DateTimeOffset
      TimeZone: TimeZoneInfo }

// Declare an array with two elements.
let timeZoneTimes = 
    [| { DateTime = DateTimeOffset.Now; TimeZone = TimeZoneInfo.Local }
       { DateTime = DateTimeOffset.Now; TimeZone = TimeZoneInfo.Local } |]

for timeZoneTime in timeZoneTimes do
    let tz = if isNull timeZoneTime.TimeZone then "<null>" else string timeZoneTime.TimeZone
    printfn $"{tz}: {timeZoneTime.DateTime:G}"
printfn ""

Array.Clear(timeZoneTimes, 1, 1)
for timeZoneTime in timeZoneTimes do
    let tz = if isNull timeZoneTime.TimeZone then "<null>" else string timeZoneTime.TimeZone
    printfn $"{tz}: {timeZoneTime.DateTime:G}"

// The example displays the following output:
//       (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada): 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
//       UTC: 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
//
//       (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada): 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
//       <null>: 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM
Public Structure TimeZoneTime
   Private dt As DateTimeOffset
   Private tz As TimeZoneInfo
   
   Public Sub New(dateTime As DateTimeOffset, timeZone As TimeZoneInfo)
      dt = dateTime
      tz = timeZone
   End Sub

   Public ReadOnly Property DateTime As DateTimeOffset
      Get
         Return dt
      End Get
   End Property
   
   Public ReadOnly Property TimeZone As TimeZoneInfo
      Get
         Return tz
      End Get
   End Property 
End Structure

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      ' Declare an array with two elements.
      Dim timeZoneTimes() As TimeZoneTime = { New TimeZoneTime(Date.Now, TimeZoneInfo.Local),
                                              New TimeZoneTime(Date.Now, TimeZoneInfo.Utc) }   
      For Each timeZoneTime In timeZoneTimes
         Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1:G}", 
                           If(timeZoneTime.TimeZone Is Nothing, "<null>", timeZoneTime.TimeZone), 
                           timeZoneTime.DateTime)
      Next
      Console.WriteLine()
      
      Array.Clear(timeZoneTimes, 1, 1)
      For Each timeZoneTime In timeZoneTimes
         Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1:G}", 
                           If(timeZoneTime.TimeZone Is Nothing, "<null>", timeZoneTime.TimeZone), 
                           timeZoneTime.DateTime)
      Next
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays output like the following:
'       (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada): 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
'       UTC: 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
'       
'       (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada): 1/20/2014 12:11:00 PM
'       <null>: 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

Remarks

This method resets each element in an array to the element type's default value. It sets elements of reference types (including String elements) to null, and sets elements of value types to the default values shown in the following table.

Type Value
Boolean false
All integral and floating point numeric types 0 (zero)
DateTime DateTime.MinValue
Other value types Default value of the type's fields

The range of cleared elements wrap from row to row in a multi-dimensional array.

This method only clears the values of the elements; it does not delete the elements themselves. An array has a fixed size; therefore, elements cannot be added or removed.

This method is an O(n) operation, where n is length.

Applies to