Anonymous Method vs. Anonymous Delegate

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Robert Howells - 21 Oct 2007 04:46 GMT

Is there any such thing as an "anonymous delegate"? I understand what an
anonymous method is, but I'm unclear of the concept of anonymous delegate
(if it is even a valid term to be using). Is an "anoymous delegate" simply
an anonymous method used in conjunction with a delegate declaration?

Thanks!

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Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP] - 21 Oct 2007 05:47 GMT

Robert,

I haven't heard the term "anonymous method" used at all. It's usually
"anonymous delegate" since the only way you can access it is through a
delegate instance.

When the compiler comes across the anonymous delegate, it will create a
method on a class which the delegate will then point to with a
compiler-generated name.

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- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mvp@spam.guard.caspershouse.com

> Is there any such thing as an "anonymous delegate"? I understand what an
> anonymous method is, but I'm unclear of the concept of anonymous delegate
> (if it is even a valid term to be using). Is an "anoymous delegate" simply
> an anonymous method used in conjunction with a delegate declaration?
>
> Thanks!

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Jon Skeet [C# MVP] - 21 Oct 2007 07:41 GMT

> I haven't heard the term "anonymous method" used at all. It's usually
> "anonymous delegate" since the only way you can access it is through a
> delegate instance.

I'd say it's the other way round, actually. I've only ever seen
"anonymous delegate" here on the newsgroup, used loosely. It doesn't
appear anywhere in the spec.

"Anonymous method" is the term used in the spec. "Anonymous function"
is also used in the C# 3 spec to cover both anonymous methods and
lambda expressions.

> When the compiler comes across the anonymous delegate, it will create a
> method on a class which the delegate will then point to with a
> compiler-generated name.

Nah, that's what happens when the compiler comes across an anonymous
method :)

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Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com>
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet
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Bob Cramer - 21 Oct 2007 08:08 GMT

<snip>

RE:

> I'd say it's the other way round, actually. I've only ever seen
> "anonymous delegate" here on the newsgroup, used loosely. It doesn't
> appear anywhere in the spec.

Google agrees with you. A search for...

"anonymous method" returns 10,500,000 hits
"anonymous delegate" returns 1,340,000 hits

... and we all know that Google is The Final Authority

:-)

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Anonymous Method vs. Anonymous Delegate

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