c# - Why can't i pass Dictionary<string, string> to IEnumerable<KeyValuePair<string, string>> as generic type -

i explanation. have generic class list of type t , execute delegate method on want pass ienumerable class able treat list, dictionary, etc.

assuming code :

        public static class genericclass<t>         {             public delegate void processdelegate(ref ienumerable<t> p_entitieslist);              public static void executeprocess(ref ienumerable<t> p_entitieslist, processdelegate p_delegate)             {                 p_delegate(ref p_entitieslist);             }         }           public static void main()         {           genericclass<keyvaluepair<string, string>.processdelegate delegateprocess =                  new genericclass<keyvaluepair<string, string>.processdelegate(                 delegate (ref ienumerable<keyvaluepair<string, string>> p_entitieslist)                     {                         //treatment...                     });            dictionary<string, string> dic = new dictionary<string, string>;           genericclass<keyvaluepair<string, string>>.executeprocess(ref dic, delegateprocess);             //i error :              //  cannot convert ref dictionary<string, string> ref ienumerable<keyvaluepair<string, string>>         } 

i explanation why can't pass dictionnary ienumerable of keyvaluepair because dictionary inherit ienumerable , use keyvaluepair.

also, better way doing ?

because it's ref parameter.

a ref parameter means method can assign new value field / variable passed caller.

had code been legal, method able assign list<keyvaluepair<string, string>>, wrong.

you should not use ref parameters.