.NET Async/Await

Introduction to Async/Await

The async/await pattern in .NET provides a powerful yet simple way to handle asynchronous programming. It is designed to work with Tasks, allowing you to write asynchronous code that is easier to read and maintain. By using async and await, you can perform non-blocking operations and improve the responsiveness of your applications.

Understanding Async Methods

An async method is a method marked with the async keyword. This keyword tells the compiler that the method contains asynchronous operations. An async method always returns a Task or Task<T>, or void for event handlers. The await keyword is used inside the async method to pause its execution until the awaited task is complete.

Using Await in Asynchronous Operations

The await keyword is used to asynchronously wait for a task to complete. It can only be used in methods marked with async. When the await expression is reached, the control is returned to the caller until the awaited task completes. This ensures that your application remains responsive.

Error Handling in Async Methods

Error handling in async methods is straightforward. You can use try, catch, and finally blocks just as you would in synchronous code. Any exceptions that occur within an async method are captured and can be handled using these blocks.

Best Practices for Using Async/Await

• Always use async and await for I/O-bound operations to keep your application responsive.
• Avoid using async void except for event handlers to ensure proper exception handling.
• Use ConfigureAwait(false) in library code to avoid deadlocks in some synchronization contexts.
• Keep the async method signatures consistent and descriptive, typically ending with Async.