C# Hashtable contains byte array value

Question

I am looking for a quick way to find if hashtable (string to byte array) collection values contains a given value, i can't use the given contains as it will compare the array object not its values.

i don't mind using linq / extension / implementing contains as long as it is short.

i have tried:

byte[] givenArr = new[]{1,2,3,4}; //(a given arr)
bool contains=false;
Hashtable table;
foreach(var val in table.values)
  if (CompareBytesFunction((byte[])val,givenArr))
      contains=true;

where compare bytes is a function to compare the 2 given byte arrays, i feel this is not the right approach. there might be a simpler way to get this without the helper method.

Answer 1

Even though it's pretty much against the concept of Hashtables which should be searched by key, you can use such code:

//suppose this is the byte array you're looking for:
byte[] b = new byte[] { 1, 3, 5 };

bool exists = myHashtable.Values.OfType<byte[]>().
    ToList().Exists(c => c.SequenceEqual(b));

Answer 2

You should probably implement an IEqualityComparer that can hash and compare byte[]. Then you can just use the normal hashtable methods.