Two-Dimensional Array with two different data types in C#

Question

Can you please tell me if it is possible to have a 2D array with two day types. I am new to C#.

For example: array[double][string]

I have radius of flowers alone with their name as follows:

4.7,Iris-setosa
4.6,Iris-setosa
7,Iris-versicolor
6.4,Iris-versicolor
6.9,Iris-versicolor
5.5,Iris-versicolor
6.5,Iris-versicolor
6.3,Iris-virginica
5.8,Iris-virginica

I would like to put these in to a 2D array and sort it according to the first double index. Please let me know if this is possible with an example.

Answer 1

The data that you are trying to organize looks like a list of name-value pairs, with non-unique names. Since the number of items is different for each name, 2D array is not the ideal way to model it. You would be better off with a dictionary that maps names to lists of radii as follows:

Dictionary<string,List<decimal>>

Here is how your data would be organized in such a dictionary:

var data = new Dictionary<string,List<decimal>> {
    {"Iris-setosa", new List<decimal> {4.7M, 4.6M}}
,   {"Iris-versicolor", new List<decimal> {7M, 6.4M, 6.9M, 5.5M, 6.5M}}
,   {"Iris-virginica", new List<decimal> {6.3M, 5.8M}}
};

I am assuming that the representation of the radius needs to be decimal in your case; you could use another representation of real numbers, too, such as float or double.

Answer 2

As comments have said, you likely want a simple class for this:

 public class Flower {
    public double Radius { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
 }

 var l = new List<Flower>();
 l.Add(new Flower() { Radius = 4.7, Name = "Iris-setosa" });
 l.Add(new Flower() { Radius = 4.6, Name = "Iris-setosa" });
 /* ... */

 Flower[] sorted = l.OrderBy(f => f.Radius).ToArray();

You could get away with an array of KeyValuePair<int, string>, but I don't see much reason to go that route unless you're just looking for something quick and dirty.