c# - How to remove the first element from an array

Array remove first element

The following asp.net c# example code demonstrate us how can we remove/delete array first element programmatically at run time in an asp.net application. .Net framework's Array Class has no any direct method or property to remove an element from it. So, we need to apply few techniques to remove first element from a one-dimensional array object.

At first, we need to convert the Array object to a Generic List by using ToList() method. Next, we can remove the first element from converted list by using RemoveAt() method. The RemoveAt() method remove/delete an element from a collection by its index value. .Net collection is zero-based index. So, we can remove first element from converted list object by passing RemoveAt() method to index value zero (0).

Then, we resize the array object by Array.Resize() method to a new size which is less than one from current size. Now, we loop through the list elements and set the array all elements value as list elements value. Finally, we get an array object where first element is removed.

array-remove-first-element.aspx


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true"%>  
  
<!DOCTYPE html>  
<script runat="server">  
    protected void Button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)  
    {
        string[] birds = new string[]
        {
            "Atlantic Puffin",
            "Little Auk",
            "Black Guillemot",
            "Rhinoceros Auklet",
            "Speckled Pigeon"
        };

        Label1.Text = "birds array.........<br />";
        foreach (string s in birds)
        {
            Label1.Text += s + "<br />";
        }

        //convert birds array to list
        List<string> birdslist = birds.ToList();
        //remove (delete) elements at index 0. first element
        birdslist.RemoveAt(0);

        Array.Resize(ref birds,birds.Length -1);
        
        for(int i=0;i<birds.Length;i++)
        {
            birds[i] = birdslist[i];
        }

        Label1.Text += "<br />birds array [after remove first element].........<br />";
        foreach (string s in birds)
        {
            Label1.Text += s + "<br />";
        }
    }  
</script>  
  
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">  
<head id="Head1" runat="server">  
    <title>c# example - array remove first element</title>  
</head>  
<body>  
    <form id="form1" runat="server">  
    <div>  
        <h2 style="color:DarkBlue; font-style:italic;">  
            c# example - array remove first element
        </h2>  
        <hr width="550" align="left" color="LightBlue" />    
        <asp:Label   
            ID="Label1"   
            runat="server"  
            Font-Size="Large"  
            >  
        </asp:Label>  
        <br />
        <asp:Button   
            ID="Button1"   
            runat="server"   
            Text="array remove first element"  
            OnClick="Button1_Click"
            Height="40"  
            Font-Bold="true"  
            />  
    </div>  
    </form>  
</body>  
</html>

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