How to use C# delegates?
In C#, delegates are a type used to reference one or more methods. Delegates can be viewed as function pointers that can be used to invoke methods.
The steps for using delegation are as follows:
- Define delegation: To begin, a delegation type must be defined, specifying the method signature that the delegation can reference. For example:
delegate void MyDelegate(int x);
- Instantiating a delegate: Creating a delegate instance and specifying the method to reference. For example:
MyDelegate myDelegate = new MyDelegate(MyMethod);
- Create a method: define a method whose signature matches the delegate. For example:
static void MyMethod(int x)
{
Console.WriteLine("MyMethod called with parameter: " + x);
}
- Invoke delegate: Calling a method through a delegate instance. For example:
myDelegate(10);
This will invoke the MyMethod function and print “MyMethod called with parameter: 10”.
Delegates also support multicast, meaning a delegate instance can refer to multiple methods. You can use the += operator to add methods and the -= operator to remove methods.