C# | List.TrimExcess Method

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
List<T>.TrimExcess Method is used to set the capacity to the actual number of elements in the List<T>, if that number is less than a threshold value. Syntax: 
public void TrimExcess ();
Note:
  • This method can be used to minimize a collection’s memory overhead if no new elements will be added to the collection.
  • To reset a List<T> to its initial state, call the Clear method before calling TrimExcess method.
  • Trimming an empty List<T> sets the capacity of the List<T> to the default capacity.
  • The cost of reallocating and copying a large List<T> can be considerable, however, so the TrimExcess method does nothing if the list is at more than 90 percent of capacity. This avoids incurring a large reallocation cost for a relatively small gain.
  • This method is an O(n) operation, where n is Count.
Below programs illustrate the use of List<T>.TrimExcess Method: Example 1: CSharp 
// C# code to set the capacity to the
// actual number of elements in the List
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class GFG {

    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {

        // Creating a List of strings
        List<string> mylist = new List<string>();

        // Inserting elements into List
        mylist.Add("1");
        mylist.Add("2");
        mylist.Add("3");
        mylist.Add("4");
        mylist.Add("5");

        // To  display the capacity of list
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Capacity);

        // To display number of elements in List
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Count);

        // using TrimExcess method
        mylist.TrimExcess();

        // To  display the capacity of list
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Capacity);

        // To display number of elements in List
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Count);
    }
}
Output: 
8
5
5
5
Example 2: CSharp 
// C# code to set the capacity to the
// actual number of elements in the List
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class GFG {

    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {

        // Creating a List of integers
        List<int> mylist = new List<int>();

        // Inserting elements into List
        mylist.Add(45);
        mylist.Add(78);
        mylist.Add(32);
        mylist.Add(231);
        mylist.Add(123);
        mylist.Add(76);
        mylist.Add(726);
        mylist.Add(716);
        mylist.Add(876);

        // To  display the capacity of list
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Capacity);

        // To display number of elements in List
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Count);

        // using TrimExcess method
        mylist.TrimExcess();

        // To  display the capacity of list
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Capacity);

        // To display number of elements in List
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Count);

        // using clear method
        mylist.Clear();

        // To  display the capacity of list
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Capacity);

        // To display number of elements in List
        Console.WriteLine(mylist.Count);
    }
}
Output: 
16
9
9
9
9
0
Reference:
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