How to use Visual Studio IEnumerable Debugger Visualizer

Imagine you’re debugging your code in Visual Studio, and you come across a variable holding a bunch of data, like a list of customers or a shopping cart full of items. Normally, inspecting this data can be a pain. You might have to squint at a long line of text or click through endless menus.

That’s where the IEnumerable Debugger Visualizer comes in as your superhero! It’s a handy tool built into Visual Studio (since version 17.2) that transforms these complex data collections into a clean, easy-to-read table.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Spot the Magnifying Glass: While debugging, you’ll see a magnifying glass icon next to variables holding collections like arrays or lists. This is your sign to activate the visualizer.
  2. Click for Clarity: Click the magnifying glass, and poof! The data unfolds into a table format. Each item in the collection gets its own row, and the table has columns for each property of those items.
  3. See it All at a Glance: Now you can easily see all the details of your data at once. Need to sort by a specific property? No problem, the visualizer lets you click on column headers to arrange the data however you like.

This visualizer is a big time-saver for developers because it:

  • Makes complex data clear: No more struggling to decipher long lines of text.
  • Boosts your debugging speed: Quickly scan through your data to pinpoint issues.
  • Improves readability: See the relationships between different parts of your data.

Overall, the IEnumerable Debugger Visualizer is a friendly helper that makes debugging collections in Visual Studio a breeze, letting you focus on solving problems instead of wrestling with data.


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