C# Array - SetValue() Method

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The C# Array SetValue() method is used to set a value at a specific index in an array. It provides the flexibility to set values in both single-dimensional and multi-dimensional arrays.

The value we assign or set to the array should be compatible with the array type. Otherwise, we will get an InvalidCastException.

Syntax

Following is the syntax of the C# Array SetValue() method −

public void SetValue(object value, params int[] indices);

Parameters

This method accepts the following parameters −

• value: The value to assign to the specified array element.
• indices: An array of integers specifying the position of the element to set. A 1D array provides a single index. For 2D array provides two indices.

Return value

This method does not return any value.

Example 1: Set Value in one-Dimensional Array

Let us create a basic example of the SetValue() method. Here, we demonstrate how to set and get a specific value in a one-dimensional −

    
using System;
public class SamplesArray  { 
   public static void Main()  {
      String[] myArr1 = new String[5];
      // Sets the element at index 3.
      myArr1.SetValue( "three", 3 );
      Console.WriteLine( "[3]: {0}", myArr1.GetValue( 3 ) );
   }
}

Output

Following is the output −

[3]: three

Example 2: Set Value in Two-Dimensional Array

Let us see another example of the SetValue() method to set and get the value in two dimensional array −

using System;
public class SamplesArray  {
   public static void Main()  {
      // Creates and initializes a two-dimensional array.
      String[,] arr = new String[5,5];
   
      // Sets the element at index 1,3.
      arr.SetValue( "one three", 1, 3 );
      Console.WriteLine( "[1,3]: {0}", arr.GetValue( 1, 3 ) );
   }
}

Output

Following is the output −

[1,3]: one three

Example 3: Set The Value in Three Dimensional Array

This is another, example of the SetValue() method. Here, we set and get the value in three dimensional array −

using System;
public class SamplesArray  {
   public static void Main()  {
      // Creates and initializes a three-dimensional array.
      String[,,] myArr3 = new String[5,5,5];
   
      // Sets the element at index 1,2,3.
      myArr3.SetValue( "one two three", 1, 2, 3 );
      Console.WriteLine( "[1,2,3]:   {0}", myArr3.GetValue( 1, 2, 3 ) );
   }
}

Output

Following is the output −

[1,2,3]: one two three

Example 4: Using SetValue with Type Conversion

Here, in this example, we use the SetValue() method with type conversion. The SetValue method will attempt type conversion when necessary, but a runtime exception will occur if the conversion is invalid −

using System;
class Program
{
   static void Main()
   {
      // Create an object array
      object[] items = new object[3];
   
      // Set values of different types
      items.SetValue(42, 0);
      items.SetValue("Hello", 1);
      items.SetValue(DateTime.Now, 2);
          
      foreach (var item in items)
      {
         Console.WriteLine(item);
      }
   }
}

Output

Following is the output −

42
Hello
1/4/2025 10:52:06 AM