What is the difference between c# arraylist and list?

There are several main differences between C# ArrayList and List.

1. Data type restrictions: ArrayList can store data objects of any type, while List is a generic collection that can only store specified type of data objects. This means that when using ArrayList, type conversion is necessary, but when using List, specified type of data objects can be directly used.
2. Performance: Since ArrayList is a non-generic collection that stores objects, boxing and unboxing operations are required when inserting or accessing data, which can affect performance. In contrast, List is a generic collection that stores data objects of a specified type, eliminating the need for boxing and unboxing operations, making it more efficient than ArrayList in terms of performance.
3. Type safety: Since ArrayList can store data objects of any type, type errors cannot be detected at compile time, making it prone to type conversion errors at runtime. Whereas List is a generic collection that can detect type errors at compile time, providing better type safety.
4. Scalability: Due to the fact that List is a generic collection, different types of List collections can be defined as needed, providing better scalability. Whereas, ArrayList can only store data objects of type object, lacking scalability.

In conclusion, List is a better choice because it has type safety, performance advantages, and better scalability.