Question

I just want to know the difference between List<string> lst = new List() and List<> lst = new List()

Answer 1

There is no List type. List<T> (or List(Of T) in VB) is a generic. It means that the list can only hold a type you pass in.

For instance:

List<string> list1 = new List<string>();
list1.Add("hello"); // OK
list1.Add(123); // Compiler error

List<int> list2 = new List<int>();
list2.Add("hello"); // Compiler error
list2.Add(123); // OK

You can read more about the generic list at MSDN.

If you want an un-typed list, you can use an ArrayList:

ArrayList list = new ArrayList();
list.Add("hello"); // OK
list.Add(123); // OK

But then you must know the type when you use an item from the list, since it can be any object.