NameValueCollection tested var collection = new NameValueCollection(); collection.Add("Sam", "Dot Net Perls"); collection.Add("Bill", "Microsoft"); collection.Add("Steve", "Apple"); collection.Add("Rupert", "News Corporation"); Dictionary tested var dictionary = new Dictionary<string, string>(); dictionary.Add("Sam", "Dot Net Perls"); dictionary.Add("Bill", "Microsoft"); dictionary.Add("Steve", "Apple"); dictionary.Add("Rupert", "News Corporation"); NameValueCollection statement tested string value = collection["Steve"]; Dictionary statement tested string value = dictionary["Steve"]; Results: 10 million iterations NameValueCollection lookup: 2768 ms Dictionary lookup: 407 ms [faster]