c# - How do I change my new list without changing the original list?

Question

I have a list that gets filled in with some data from an operation and I am storing it in the memory cache. Now I want another list which contains some sub data from the list based on some condition.

As can be seen in the below code I am doing some operation on the target list. The problem is that whatever changes I am doing to the target list is also being done to the mainList. I think its because of the reference is same or something.

All I need is that operation on the target list not affect data inside the main list.

List<Item> target = mainList;
SomeOperationFunction(target);

 void List<Item> SomeOperationFunction(List<Item> target)
{
  target.removeat(3);
  return target;
}

Answer 1

You need to clone your list in your method, because List<T> is a class, so it's reference-type and is passed by reference.

For example:

List<Item> SomeOperationFunction(List<Item> target)
{
  List<Item> tmp = target.ToList();
  tmp.RemoveAt(3);
  return tmp;
}

Or

List<Item> SomeOperationFunction(List<Item> target)
{
  List<Item> tmp = new List<Item>(target);
  tmp.RemoveAt(3);
  return tmp;
}

or

List<Item> SomeOperationFunction(List<Item> target)
{
  List<Item> tmp = new List<Item>();
  tmp.AddRange(target);
  tmp.RemoveAt(3);
  return tmp;
}