Is there somthing like 'out of scope' in C#? And some related questions -

i c#-newbie.

i have function supposed return values list, have matching time-stamp:

static public pointcloud getpointsbytime (float time) {     pointcloud returnlist = new list<pointdata> ();      (int = 0; < _pointcloud.count; i++) {         if (_pointcloud [i].time == time) {             returnlist.add (_pointcloud [i]);         }     }      return returnlist; } 

where

public class pointdata {     public float time;     // , other members } 

and

// let's call list of pointdata-objects pointcloud using pointcloud = system.collections.generic.list<pointdata>; 

does function want do? or have create new pointdata-object? able use returned pointcloud or out of scope , deleted?

this may not best example explain feel free link me better. think basic quastions are.

your code correct. can use function so:

var sometime = 0.0f; var pointsattime = getpointsbytime(sometime); dosomethingwith(pointsattime); 

the return value function remains in scope if assign local variable (e.g. pointsattime here).

edit: peter schneider correctly notes in comments, need aware function creates new list references matching points, , not create new points. might or might not want.

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however, if you're new c#, here things might want keep in mind:

1. methods in c# conventionally named in titlecase, e.g. getpointsbytime , not getpointsbytime.
2. assigning names generic types using pointcloud = list<pointdata>, while technically allowed, not idiomatic , might confuse other readers of code. if think list of pointdata special enough have own type, create type (either inheriting list<pointdata> or, preferably, using ilist<pointdata> member in new pointcloud class). or use using system.collections.generic , use list<pointdata> throughout code, people do.
3. comparing floating-point numbers equality discouraged might fail in cases due representation errors; if time continuous value, might want points in specific time period (e.g. points fall within range around desired time). don't have worry now, though.