How to iterate through two IEnumerables simultaneo

Question

I have two enumerables: IEnumerable<A> list1 and IEnumerable<B> list2. I would like to iterate through them simultaneously like:

foreach((a, b) in (list1, list2))
{
    // use a and b
}

If they don't contain the same number of elements, an exception should be thrown.

What is the best way to do this?

Answer 1

using(var enum1 = list1.GetEnumerator())
using(var enum2 = list2.GetEnumerator())
{
    while(true)
    {
        bool moveNext1 = enum1.MoveNext();
        bool moveNext2 = enum2.MoveNext();
        if (moveNext1 != moveNext2)
            throw new InvalidOperationException();
        if (!moveNext1)
            break;
        var a = enum1.Current;
        var b = enum2.Current;
        // use a and b
    }
}

Answer 2

Go with IEnumerable.GetEnumerator, so you can move around the enumerable. Note that this might have some really nasty behavior, and you must be careful. If you want to get it working, go with this, if you want to have maintainable code, use two foreach.

You could create a wrapping class or use a library (as Jon Skeet suggests) to handle this functionality in a more generic way if you are going to use it more than once thru your code.

The code for what I suggest:

var firstEnum = aIEnumerable.GetEnumerator();
var secondEnum = bIEnumerable.GetEnumerator();

var firstEnumMoreItems = firstEnum.MoveNext();
var secondEnumMoreItems = secondEnum.MoveNext();    

while (firstEnumMoreItems && secondEnumMoreItems)
{
      // Do whatever.  
      firstEnumMoreItems = firstEnum.MoveNext();
      secondEnumMoreItems = secondEnum.MoveNext();   
}

if (firstEnumMoreItems || secondEnumMoreItems)
{
     Throw new Exception("One Enum is bigger");
}

// IEnumerator does not have a Dispose method, but IEnumerator<T> has.
if (firstEnum is IDisposable) { ((IDisposable)firstEnum).Dispose(); }
if (secondEnum is IDisposable) { ((IDisposable)secondEnum).Dispose(); }