Using dictionary for only one entry [duplicate]

Question

I need to return 2 values (a string and a point) from a method and I dont really want to use ref/out as the values should stay together.

I was thinking of using a Dictionary<string, Point>.

My question is: Is dictionary a good choice of data structure if it only has one KeyValuePair? Or are there any other suitable options?

Answer 1

If you dont want to create a named class , you can use Tuple to return more than one parameter

Tuple<int,  Point> tuple =
        new Tuple<int,  Point>(1, new Point());

return tuple

Answer 2

You can create your own class. But Tuple<T1, T2> may be convenient. It's just for that sort of thing, when you need to pass around an object containing a few different types.

I'd lean toward creating a class unless it's extremely clear what the tuple is for just by the definition. That way you can give it a name that improves readability. And it can also save a maintenance nuisance if you later determine that there are more than two values. You can just maintain one class instead of replacing Tuple<int, Point> with Tuple<int, Point, Something> in multiple places.

I wouldn't use KeyValuePair because someone looking at it would reasonably assume that there's a dictionary somewhere in the picture, so it would create some confusion. If there are just two values and no dictionary then there is no key.