Immutable Generic Collection Extensions

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace Com.WickedByte.Collections.Generic
{
    /// <summary>
    /// A set of extensions to <see cref="System.Collections.Generic"/>
    /// data structures that enable the creation of read-only
    /// references.
    /// </summary>
    /// <remarks>The original data structure can still be
    /// modified, so changes to the original reference will
    /// still be reflected in the read-only wrapper.</remarks>
    public static class ReadOnlyExtensions
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Creates a read-only reference to a generic collection.
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="T">The type of objects contained
        /// in the collection.</typeparam>
        /// <param name="collection">The collection for which
        /// a read-only wrapper will be created.</param>
        /// <returns>Read-only wrapper for the collection.</returns>
        public static ICollection<T> ToReadOnly<T>( this ICollection<T> collection )
        {
            return new ReadOnlyCollection<T>( collection );
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates a read-only reference to a generic list.
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="T">The type of objects contained
        /// in the list.</typeparam>
        /// <param name="list">The list for which
        /// a read-only wrapper will be created.</param>
        /// <returns>Read-only wrapper for the list.</returns>
        public static IList<T> ToReadOnly<T>( this IList<T> list )
        {
            return new ReadOnlyList<T>( list );
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates a read-only reference to a generic dictionary.
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="TKey">The type of keys
        /// held in the dictionary.</typeparam>
        /// <typeparam name="TValue">The type of values held
        /// in the dictionary.</typeparam>
        /// <param name="dictionary">The dictionary for which
        /// a read-only wrapper will be created.</param>
        /// <returns>Read-only wrapper to the dictionary.</returns>
        public static IDictionary<TKey, TValue> ToReadOnly<TKey, TValue>( this IDictionary<TKey, TValue> dictionary )
        {
            return new ReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>( dictionary );
        }
    }
}