C# LINQ Introduction

Take or skip some elements in the collection

The next two methods we discuss are

• Take(numberOfElements) and
• Skip(numberOfElements)

Take returns the first n elements:

var numbers = new [] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
var result = numbers.Take(3); // 1, 2, 3

Skip discards the first n elements:

var numbers = new [] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
var result = numbers.Skip(3); // 4, 5, 6

You can also combine the methods:

var numbers = new [] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
var result = numbers.Skip(1).Take(3);   // 2, 3, 4

This is NEW - Method Chaining!

Here we have to stop and deliberately walk through the last example again.

We just discovered a very powerful feature of LINQ: method chaining!

As the LINQ methods covered so far have the same type IEnumerable<T> as input and output, we can call a LINQ method on the result of another LINQ method.

Here is what happens:

• The first call to Skip skips the first element and returns the succeeding elements.
• The second call to Take retunrs the first three elements of the result of Skip.

var numbers = new [] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
var result = numbers    // 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    .Skip(1)            //    2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    .Take(3);           //    2, 3, 4

You can aply method chaining to any LINQ method. They are designed to work that way.

Method chaining example

Return the first two adults of a collection.