Unicorn with delicious cookie
Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience.
Accept
to the top
>
>
>
V3221. Modifying a collection during it…
menu mobile close menu
Analyzer diagnostics
General Analysis (C++)
General Analysis (C#)
General Analysis (Java)
Micro-Optimizations (C++)
Diagnosis of 64-bit errors (Viva64, C++)
Customer specific requests (C++)
MISRA errors
AUTOSAR errors
OWASP errors (C++)
OWASP errors (C#)
OWASP errors (Java)
Problems related to code analyzer
Additional information
toggle menu Contents

V3221. Modifying a collection during its enumeration will lead to an exception.

Apr 02 2025

The analyzer has detected that a collection is being modified during iteration. This may result in an InvalidOperationException.

The example:

public void AppendMissingNames(List<string> currentNames, 
                               List<string> otherNames)
{
  foreach(string name in currentNames)
  {
    if (!otherNames.Contains(name))
    {
      currentNames.Add(name);
    }
  }
}

In the foreach loop body, the Add method is called on the currentNames collection while iterating over the same collection. Modifying currentNames during iteration will cause the InvalidOperationException.

The fixed code might look as follows:

public void AppendMissingNames(List<string> currentNames, 
                               List<string> otherNames)
{
  foreach(string name in currentNames)
  {
    if (!otherNames.Contains(name))
    {
      otherNames.Add(name);
    }
  }
}

Missing names should be added to otherNames instead of currentNames. This ensures that the collection being iterated over remains unchanged.

Take a look at the following example of iterating over a collection using the ForEach method:

collection.ForEach(name => { collection.Add(name); });

The error is similar to the previous one: the collection being iterated over is modified. To fix this, change the collection where new elements are added:

collection.ForEach(name => { collectionForAppend.Add(name); });

This diagnostic is classified as:

close form

Fill out the form in 2 simple steps below:

Your contact information:

Step 1
Congratulations! This is your promo code!

Desired license type:

Step 2
Team license
Enterprise license
** By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement
close form
Request our prices
New License
License Renewal
--Select currency--
USD
EUR
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
Free PVS‑Studio license for Microsoft MVP specialists
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
To get the licence for your open-source project, please fill out this form
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
I want to join the test
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
check circle
Message submitted.

Your message has been sent. We will email you at


If you do not see the email in your inbox, please check if it is filtered to one of the following folders:

  • Promotion
  • Updates
  • Spam