[c#] What happens to C# Dictionary<int, int> lookup if the key does not exist?

I tried checking for null but the compiler warns that this condition will never occur. What should I be looking for?

A helper class is handy:

public static class DictionaryHelper
{
    public static TVal Get<TKey, TVal>(this Dictionary<TKey, TVal> dictionary, TKey key, TVal defaultVal = default(TVal))
    {
        TVal val;
        if( dictionary.TryGetValue(key, out val) )
        {
            return val;
        }
        return defaultVal;
    }
}

ContainsKey is what you're looking for.

Consider the option of encapsulating this particular dictionary and provide a method to return the value for that key:

public static class NumbersAdapter
{
    private static readonly Dictionary<string, string> Mapping = new Dictionary<string, string>
    {
        ["1"] = "One",
        ["2"] = "Two",
        ["3"] = "Three"
    };

    public static string GetValue(string key)
    {
        return Mapping.ContainsKey(key) ? Mapping[key] : key;
    }
}

Then you can manage the behaviour of this dictionary.

For example here: if the dictionary doesn't have the key, it returns key that you pass by parameter.

The Dictionary throws a KeyNotFound exception in the event that the dictionary does not contain your key.

As suggested, ContainsKey is the appropriate precaution. TryGetValue is also effective.

This allows the dictionary to store a value of null more effectively. Without it behaving this way, checking for a null result from the [] operator would indicate either a null value OR the non-existance of the input key which is no good.

int result= YourDictionaryName.TryGetValue(key, out int value) ? YourDictionaryName[key] : 0;

If the key is present in the dictionary, it returns the value of the key otherwise it returns 0.

Hope, this code helps you.

If you're just checking before trying to add a new value, use the ContainsKey method:

if (!openWith.ContainsKey("ht"))
{
    openWith.Add("ht", "hypertrm.exe");
}

If you're checking that the value exists, use the TryGetValue method as described in Jon Skeet's answer.

You should probably use:

if(myDictionary.ContainsKey(someInt))
{
  // do something
}

The reason why you can't check for null is that the key here is a value type.

You should check for Dictionary.ContainsKey(int key) before trying to pull out the value.

Dictionary<int, int> myDictionary = new Dictionary<int, int>();
myDictionary.Add(2,4);
myDictionary.Add(3,5);

int keyToFind = 7;
if(myDictionary.ContainsKey(keyToFind))
{
    myValueLookup = myDictionay[keyToFind];
    // do work...
}
else
{
    // the key doesn't exist.
}