In this case, depends on personal preference. This is mine, as an example:
private List<string> _MyList = new List<string>();
private void InitializeList()
{
//code here to fill list.
//Keep in mind, that binary search works on sorted lists.
_MyList.Sort(/* Place your object comparer here. */);
}
//Make a copy in an array.
public string[] MyListAsArray
{
get { return _MyList.ToArray(); }
}
public int GetBinarySearchIndex(string value)
{
return Array.BinarySearch(MyListAsArray, value/*, Place your object comparer here. */);
}