[c#] Define: What is a HashSet?

A HashSet has an internal structure (hash), where items can be searched and identified quickly. The downside is that iterating through a HashSet (or getting an item by index) is rather slow.

So why would someone want be able to know if an entry already exists in a set?

One situation where a HashSet is useful is in getting distinct values from a list where duplicates may exist. Once an item is added to the HashSet it is quick to determine if the item exists (Contains operator).

Other advantages of the HashSet are the Set operations: IntersectWith, IsSubsetOf, IsSupersetOf, Overlaps, SymmetricExceptWith, UnionWith.

If you are familiar with the object constraint language then you will identify these set operations. You will also see that it is one step closer to an implementation of executable UML.