vb.net - Find Item Of Structure in List (Of Structure) -

i have struct:

private structure udtt9map     dim keyboardkey string     dim mobilebutton integer end structure 

they stored in

private _list list(of udtt9map) 

i know if there fast way locate item in list giving keyboardkey.

since e. g. "keyboardkey" theoretically occur multiple times, guess ms did not include such function because multiple items list returned.

am wrong?

thank much!

a list doesn't have means of finding items. locating items in list o(n) operation, i.e. need loop through entire list , compare value each structure. fast lookup rather use dictionary of lists:

private _dict dictionary(of string, list(of udtt9map)) 

by storing structures same keyboardkey value in list in dictionary using keyboardkey value key, can structures value fast. reading dictionary close o(1) operation.

to list use:

dim result list(of udtt9map) = _dict(key) 

if keyboardkey values known unique in collection, don't need dictionary of lists, can use dictionary of structure:

private _dict dictionary(of string, udtt9map) 

to item use:

dim result udtt9map = _dict(key)